What do you think?
Rate this book
The Guardians Eyes #1
Hell Bound
It started out like any other day for Lex—boring school work, nasty bullies, and a life with no adventure. But, when her Guardian summons her and her sister, Brie, to Earthchild Academy, Lex’s life is about to change. Not only does their Guardian reveal a secret she’s been hiding for over a century, she tasks them with an assignment, that if they fail, could have devastating consequences to all the realms.
After using her Guardians Eye for the first time—an amulet that lets mortals travel to the other realms—Lex stands in the Underworld, not sure if she and her sister are ready for this assignment. What can two eighteen-year-old girls do, that the Guardians cannot? And why the hell was she so excited before?
Then he walks up. Tall, dark, mysterious, and an asshole. But there is something about him that calls to her, pulls her in deep, and hooks her into his claws. Lex has never felt this before and doesn’t think she wants to. Especially, not with him. But the longer she is around him, the more her feelings grow.
How can she complete this impossible mission, and keep her drooling to a minimum? Her life just became a complicated mess, and the only thing she can think…
Be careful what you wish for.
After using her Guardians Eye for the first time—an amulet that lets mortals travel to the other realms—Lex stands in the Underworld, not sure if she and her sister are ready for this assignment. What can two eighteen-year-old girls do, that the Guardians cannot? And why the hell was she so excited before?
Then he walks up. Tall, dark, mysterious, and an asshole. But there is something about him that calls to her, pulls her in deep, and hooks her into his claws. Lex has never felt this before and doesn’t think she wants to. Especially, not with him. But the longer she is around him, the more her feelings grow.
How can she complete this impossible mission, and keep her drooling to a minimum? Her life just became a complicated mess, and the only thing she can think…
Be careful what you wish for.
ebook
First published August 23, 2016
19 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Nicole J. Merchant
6 books45 followersNicole is a mother, a wife, an author, a teacher, an editor, and most days, completely insane.
She loves to read, write, and get lost in her imagination.
She believes in fairy tales and happily ever afters, but she also loves the dark and twisted.
She is good, and she is evil.
She loves magic all things fantasy.
For her, fairies are real, vampires lurk in the dark, and there are always monsters hiding in her closet.
Visit her website http://nicolejmerchant.wixsite.com/ni...
She loves to read, write, and get lost in her imagination.
She believes in fairy tales and happily ever afters, but she also loves the dark and twisted.
She is good, and she is evil.
She loves magic all things fantasy.
For her, fairies are real, vampires lurk in the dark, and there are always monsters hiding in her closet.
Visit her website http://nicolejmerchant.wixsite.com/ni...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 26, 2016
There are so many good things to say about this book that I’m unsure where to start! First of all, I have to say that I loved Lex’s character. She’s so spunky and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I love the spontaneity of her random outbursts; they caused me to laugh quite a few times throughout this piece. Especially when her and her fraternal twin, Brie, first enter into the Underworld. Another thing I loved about this book were the descriptions. They were eloquently written in a way that made me feel as if I was in the scene as I was reading it. The momentum of the adventure is a real page turner right up to the twist at the end.
Perhaps my only grievance with this book would be the relationship between Lex and Zagreus. I felt as if they reached the “I-love-you” stage of their relationship way too quickly, but that might just be my own hang-up. Definitely don’t let it stop you from reading this book.
This novel was amazing, and I eagerly wait to see what Miss Merchant has in store for Brie and Lex in book two!
Perhaps my only grievance with this book would be the relationship between Lex and Zagreus. I felt as if they reached the “I-love-you” stage of their relationship way too quickly, but that might just be my own hang-up. Definitely don’t let it stop you from reading this book.
This novel was amazing, and I eagerly wait to see what Miss Merchant has in store for Brie and Lex in book two!
November 15, 2016
Full disclosure, I did receive a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I went into it expecting another indie romp with perhaps some rough edges. Indie books, I have learned are a bit of a different category than those traditionally published and should be read as such. I often say that they are the "garage band" equivalent of the book world. This book is no different. While not unenjoyable, there is a lot to unpack with this one.
The Good:
The author does have a clear voice with her characters and her descriptions. There is some genuine talent here. Merchant writes with the passion and fervor of one whose writing is not yet tempered. The descriptions are fluid, well written, and detailed. Extremely detailed.
The characters are consistent. Each of them has their own personality and each one is carried with unique nuances. It is clear that the author has a good grasp on the mythology used within the story, although there were times when the story began to veer into Abrahamic territory if ever so slightly.
The Bad:
Though the characters were written well, the romance felt extremely forced. Not much more than frosty annoyance, one blow up fight, and then a bizarre make-out session in the depths of the Underworld. Though the love interest is well described, if not perhaps a bit too perfect.
The journey of the main character does not follow any kind of arc or Hero's Journey. The Lexi at the beginning of the book is very much the same as the one at the end. Much of the information necessary for the narrative felt like an info-dump. That is one character simply sets down the other characters and tells them the background. Instead of this being revealed through the action of the story to engage the reader.
The lovely detail mentioned above took over the narrative more times than I could count. For example, the main characters arrive at a house near the beginning. The house is described in such detail (seven full paragraphs), I am thinking this must be an important location to the story. They spend some time there and then leave for the Hero's Journey, never returning to the house for any significance again.
All of the characters come across as being extremely reactionary. There is so much head whipping, leaping from chairs, arm-crossing, and breaking into tears that I had vertigo by the second chapter. The main character remains inconsistent in her reactions to the denizens of the Underworld. In one moment she recoils in horror. In another, she shrugs it off, mentally excusing the phenomenon with the excuse that she is, after all, in the Underworld. It's to be expected. Her understanding that the rules are different wavers drastically throughout the book.
The Ugly:
The author used the word "hoo-ha" in reference to the Main Character's vagina. This was not even during a romantic scene but simply a quick aside in which the character changes clothes (for five paragraphs). In fact, there seems to be a nearly Puritanical treatment of human sexuality threaded throughout the book. The female Bad Guys are described with full consistency of being either grotesque or beautiful and all in varying stages of undress. Nudity, especially the exposure of the female breast seemed to equal a manner of evil within the character. The sole exception being the mermaid, who is described as twelve years old, even though there is a bizarre mention of her "voluminous boobs".
All in all, there are some genuinely promising moments from this author. At the end, to my great surprise, I found myself caring what happened next. I believe with the right mentorship, some guidance, and perhaps some additional passes with a story editor, this could be an entertaining jaunt. I know I'll be watching from here on. My curiosity is sparked. I want to see what stories this author has yet to tell.
The Good:
The author does have a clear voice with her characters and her descriptions. There is some genuine talent here. Merchant writes with the passion and fervor of one whose writing is not yet tempered. The descriptions are fluid, well written, and detailed. Extremely detailed.
The characters are consistent. Each of them has their own personality and each one is carried with unique nuances. It is clear that the author has a good grasp on the mythology used within the story, although there were times when the story began to veer into Abrahamic territory if ever so slightly.
The Bad:
Though the characters were written well, the romance felt extremely forced. Not much more than frosty annoyance, one blow up fight, and then a bizarre make-out session in the depths of the Underworld. Though the love interest is well described, if not perhaps a bit too perfect.
The journey of the main character does not follow any kind of arc or Hero's Journey. The Lexi at the beginning of the book is very much the same as the one at the end. Much of the information necessary for the narrative felt like an info-dump. That is one character simply sets down the other characters and tells them the background. Instead of this being revealed through the action of the story to engage the reader.
The lovely detail mentioned above took over the narrative more times than I could count. For example, the main characters arrive at a house near the beginning. The house is described in such detail (seven full paragraphs), I am thinking this must be an important location to the story. They spend some time there and then leave for the Hero's Journey, never returning to the house for any significance again.
All of the characters come across as being extremely reactionary. There is so much head whipping, leaping from chairs, arm-crossing, and breaking into tears that I had vertigo by the second chapter. The main character remains inconsistent in her reactions to the denizens of the Underworld. In one moment she recoils in horror. In another, she shrugs it off, mentally excusing the phenomenon with the excuse that she is, after all, in the Underworld. It's to be expected. Her understanding that the rules are different wavers drastically throughout the book.
The Ugly:
The author used the word "hoo-ha" in reference to the Main Character's vagina. This was not even during a romantic scene but simply a quick aside in which the character changes clothes (for five paragraphs). In fact, there seems to be a nearly Puritanical treatment of human sexuality threaded throughout the book. The female Bad Guys are described with full consistency of being either grotesque or beautiful and all in varying stages of undress. Nudity, especially the exposure of the female breast seemed to equal a manner of evil within the character. The sole exception being the mermaid, who is described as twelve years old, even though there is a bizarre mention of her "voluminous boobs".
All in all, there are some genuinely promising moments from this author. At the end, to my great surprise, I found myself caring what happened next. I believe with the right mentorship, some guidance, and perhaps some additional passes with a story editor, this could be an entertaining jaunt. I know I'll be watching from here on. My curiosity is sparked. I want to see what stories this author has yet to tell.
August 24, 2016
This book is freaking amazing and worth more than 5 stars!
Nicole writes in a way that sucks you in from the very first page and once I started, I couldn't put it down.
Lex, along with her twin sister, Brie, is a Protector. She has to travel to other realms to guide many different mythical creatures.
When the portals are compromised, they are summoned to the Academy for training.
When they reach the Underworld to meet Hades, Lex meets Zagreus. Let me just say their meeting was not only hilarious, but also sizzling with chemistry. What unfolds is a wonderful story full of myths and magic and steamy scenes that'll have your toes curling.
A definite must-read for fans of Fantasy novels. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Nicole writes in a way that sucks you in from the very first page and once I started, I couldn't put it down.
Lex, along with her twin sister, Brie, is a Protector. She has to travel to other realms to guide many different mythical creatures.
When the portals are compromised, they are summoned to the Academy for training.
When they reach the Underworld to meet Hades, Lex meets Zagreus. Let me just say their meeting was not only hilarious, but also sizzling with chemistry. What unfolds is a wonderful story full of myths and magic and steamy scenes that'll have your toes curling.
A definite must-read for fans of Fantasy novels. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
November 11, 2016
All I can say is WOW! I loved every moment of this book. Nicole Merchant did an amazing job describing every scene, creature, character you can imagine. Her writing is so detailed that you can picture yourself in the book. If you are into mythology, magic and love, this book is for you. In this amazing story you will meet Lex, Brie, and Zagreus who go on a journey in the Underworld trying to save realms from closing. In their journey they get to meet creatures of the Underworld which provides them with obstetrical towards their task. I am looking forward to reading more books by Nicole J Merchant.
October 31, 2016
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
YA isn't my usual genre, but I enjoyed Hell Bound. Merchant clearly knows her mythology, and uses it to good effect. Lex and Brie are fairly normal teen girls dealing with supernatural abilities. The whole setup with the Protectors was also interestingly done.
The only quibble I have with the story is that although they're unsure of themselves and just learning the full extent of their powers, they feel a bit too super-powerful.
YA isn't my usual genre, but I enjoyed Hell Bound. Merchant clearly knows her mythology, and uses it to good effect. Lex and Brie are fairly normal teen girls dealing with supernatural abilities. The whole setup with the Protectors was also interestingly done.
The only quibble I have with the story is that although they're unsure of themselves and just learning the full extent of their powers, they feel a bit too super-powerful.
July 27, 2017
OMG, wow. This was one incredible book. I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be one clicking the rest of this authors work
June 25, 2019
Yer goin' to Hell--and yer gonna love it!
Overall, a very solid read, the first I've read from this author. While the beginning is a bit slow, it still piqued my interest, and then everything, well, goes to Hell in a handcart--and I mean that in a good way.
Characters--y'gotta love them. Lex's character, the centerpiece of the novel, is brash, outspoken--and her internal comments on the other people in the novel are right on target--impulsive at times, but,, hey, she's a teen, and teens are apt to be impulsive. She's at turns funny, bitchy, witty, and always real.
Her fraternal twin, Brie, gets in a few zingers as well, and seems a tad more level-headed. That's a good thing, as she provides a nice counterbalance to Lex.
The other characters were handled well. No problems there.
A minor drawback for me was the length--explanation coming. The copy I got was excellently formatted and I couldn't find any glaring errors in grammar or punctuation. Ms. Merchant is an excellent wordsmith and knows her way around describing scenes and people, but at times I felt that she was tossing in a few too many narrative passages that the novel could have well done without. This didn't diminish my enjoyment of the piece, but it got a little wordy at times for me.
As well, the love interests--Lex and Zagreus--well, it wasn't insta-love, but it did seem a tad rushed. However, the twist at the end was bang-on, and the final pages were thrilling all the way. I liked it enough to give it five stars and I wonder what Ms. Merchant has up her sleeve for the next round.
Recommended.
Overall, a very solid read, the first I've read from this author. While the beginning is a bit slow, it still piqued my interest, and then everything, well, goes to Hell in a handcart--and I mean that in a good way.
Characters--y'gotta love them. Lex's character, the centerpiece of the novel, is brash, outspoken--and her internal comments on the other people in the novel are right on target--impulsive at times, but,, hey, she's a teen, and teens are apt to be impulsive. She's at turns funny, bitchy, witty, and always real.
Her fraternal twin, Brie, gets in a few zingers as well, and seems a tad more level-headed. That's a good thing, as she provides a nice counterbalance to Lex.
The other characters were handled well. No problems there.
A minor drawback for me was the length--explanation coming. The copy I got was excellently formatted and I couldn't find any glaring errors in grammar or punctuation. Ms. Merchant is an excellent wordsmith and knows her way around describing scenes and people, but at times I felt that she was tossing in a few too many narrative passages that the novel could have well done without. This didn't diminish my enjoyment of the piece, but it got a little wordy at times for me.
As well, the love interests--Lex and Zagreus--well, it wasn't insta-love, but it did seem a tad rushed. However, the twist at the end was bang-on, and the final pages were thrilling all the way. I liked it enough to give it five stars and I wonder what Ms. Merchant has up her sleeve for the next round.
Recommended.
October 13, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. Honestly I loved it so much and I didn't want it to end too soon so I set it down and read some of other books, but I couldn't ever stay away for too long. Nichole did an amazing job with this book and all the worlds she built within it. Lex is now my favorite character ever. I adore her attitude and take no s*** policy. Her inner banter and her outer banter are awesome. I enjoyed all the other characters that were thrown into the story too, but Lex has her own special place in my heart now. All the twists and excitement that Lex, Brie, and Zagreus experienced just made the book so much more juicy. I can't wait to read the second book and find out more of this story and see what other adventures they get up to. Plus I need more of Lex's sass.
November 9, 2020
Greek mythology and kickass characters
Are you a fan of the greek gods? Then this is the book for you! Here is a world where the gods exist and they interact with mortals and their realms. Brie and Lex are a part of this group and are tasked with saving the realms from danger.
The characters are lively and hilarious. Brie is calm and cool while Lex is the one who is unsure of herself. The sisters really compliment each other. The action is nail biting and edge of your seat, with vivid descriptions to boot!
Are you a fan of the greek gods? Then this is the book for you! Here is a world where the gods exist and they interact with mortals and their realms. Brie and Lex are a part of this group and are tasked with saving the realms from danger.
The characters are lively and hilarious. Brie is calm and cool while Lex is the one who is unsure of herself. The sisters really compliment each other. The action is nail biting and edge of your seat, with vivid descriptions to boot!
August 19, 2017
The beginning started off a bit odd for me; 2 teenager girls are being sent to Hell on a rescue mission? It came out of nowhere...but the more you get into it, the more you love it. Fans of Mount Olympus and the Gods will enjoy this action packed adventure.
The characters are written in a unique style but it did feel a bit wordy at times. Overall. 4 stars.
The characters are written in a unique style but it did feel a bit wordy at times. Overall. 4 stars.
April 16, 2020
really enjoyed the world the author created - just enough familiar and unfamiliar to really keep me interested. There were times the main character infuriated me - which to me is a sign of good writing - I was totally swept up in story and was 'there'. I am looking forward to the next book!
Read
April 23, 2020Wow!!!
This book is amazing, the characters ,and the story line are completely brilliant. It really pulls you in and grand your full attention. I can't wait to buy the next book to find out what happens next. Absolutely amazing!!!
This book is amazing, the characters ,and the story line are completely brilliant. It really pulls you in and grand your full attention. I can't wait to buy the next book to find out what happens next. Absolutely amazing!!!
Want to read
March 26, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/26/2020)! 🎁
April 14, 2019
Awesome sauce
Good book! I thought it was awesome and I love a book I can share with my teen. This is that book
Good book! I thought it was awesome and I love a book I can share with my teen. This is that book
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews