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Time is running out for Ben Greenwood – not as an apprentice for the Royal Institute of Magic, but as the Head Guardian, secretly responsible for uniting Queen Elizabeth's Armour.

The dark elves are coming and the only chance of stopping them is to find the last Guardian and the final two pieces of the armour. They will be difficult to find and heavily protected, as they are the most important of all. To make matters worse, Ben's only clue to their whereabouts comes from a particularly unreliable and dangerous source.

With the dark elves massing an army and looking increasingly likely to begin their invasion, Ben faces a race against time to find the last Guardian and unite the final pieces of Elizabeth's Armour. But that isn't his only challenge – he will soon be forced to make a critical decision involving his closest friends, and even his oldest enemies, that might make or break the entire mission.

407 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2016

444 people are currently reading
349 people want to read

About the author

Victor Kloss

17 books238 followers
Victor originally wrote:

"Born in London, I live in a lovely little town in West Sussex with my wife and daughter.

"My passion for writing came from the many great books I read as a child and at school. I thought it would be nice to give others the same pleasure of escaping to another world that they gave me."

Victor passed away on 5 November 2016 after fighting a losing battle against an aggressive form of lymphoma.

To learn more about Victor and his writing, please visit his website.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
1,377 (64%)
4 stars
589 (27%)
3 stars
161 (7%)
2 stars
13 (<1%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Kino.
179 reviews
April 13, 2018
I haven't read the book yet and I am just about to start the series but it seems that the author has passed away. Please go to his patreon page https://www.patreon.com/royalinstitut... for a continued support for his family. I will be changing my rating once I have completed this series. I wish the best for the family and I hope that those who loved this series and can provide further support for his family, please consider doing so.
Profile Image for Shauna.
13 reviews2 followers
January 4, 2017
A Clean,Well Written Adventure!

I gave this book 5 stars because I enjoyed reading it and the other books in the series. There is no sexual content or gross violence. There is fighting and war some, but nothing I would not want a child to read, so it is good for adults too! This book needs to be read with the other books in the series in order. The characters improve as they go along. There are plenty of unexpected parts, so the plot works well and stays interesting. It is just a well written adventure. A summary of the plot is that a group of friends are trying to stop a dark elf invasion. To do that they need to gather pieces of magic armor and a sword hidden years before, before the war begins. They then must face the evil elf king and his army. This book is about gathering half of the armor and the war's beginning stages.
Profile Image for Chettina M. Call.
1 review
December 14, 2016
Couldn't put it down!!

What an addictive and fast paced story! To avoid spoilers expect to not be able to put the book down until the final page is turned . This reader cannot wait for the next book.
12 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2016
Love

Enjoyed this book. High action, lots of magic and great writing. I recommend this book to all my family and friends.
Profile Image for Kristen.
62 reviews2 followers
December 17, 2017
I am completely heart broken today and this author wasn’t even my family. He clearly was a very talented man and had an imaginative mind. I loved this series probably second to HP in my life and that’s likely only because I haven’t finished it yet. I can’t wait until the family chooses a worthy author to finish this legacy. I know they have many other struggles ahead of them but hope they can continue his memory the way he intended.
Profile Image for Christine Ottaway.
Author 9 books4 followers
January 27, 2025
This is such a fantastic series which never fails to deliver an imaginative story, nicely written.

Just re-read it. Victor Kloss had an amazing imagination - the story whips along at a great pace and I love the well crafted characters and the all the wonderful twists and turns.

This is the fourth time I’ve read this and again loved it. What is interesting is the lack of technology in the series. It’s only 7 years since written and there is no mention of smart phones or internet.

I realise it’s about magic but the fact that research is done in books jars against the possibilities of magical internet and researching in quirky, original ways. So many other aspects are wonderfully original, all the detail inside Lord Samuel’s house and the Royal Institute of Magic itself.

Time and technology have overtaken the books.

Nevertheless I love this series.
Profile Image for Al_owl.
162 reviews2 followers
July 20, 2017
Fun RIDE

Take a turn through this series and enjoy the afternoon. Yes, it's a little bit predictable ànd it is not always "brit" correct, but It is still fun. ENJOY!
Profile Image for Claire.
172 reviews
November 23, 2016
As soon as I completed the last page of book 5 I quickly searched for the title of book 6 to add to my list to be notified of its release. With my search I soon discovered of the passing of Victor Kloss after his battle with cancer. When I read this news Ben, Natalie, Charlie, and all the other characters I have grown to adore and admire dimmed a little. I hope book 6 was complete so Mr. Kloss' characters could finish their battle as a symbolic end for the author who lost his ....
Profile Image for Verne Arnold.
96 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2017
A good "Harry Potter" clone with an interesting magic system and backstory.

Well written and engaging for readers of all ages.

Unfortunatly the author Victor Kloss passed away this past November leaving a wife and young child as well as an unfinished book 6 to complete the story.

More information can be found here http://www.royalinstituteofmagic.com/

there is a Patron site to support both his family and the completion of the story here https://www.patreon.com/royalinstitut...
Profile Image for Scott Wozniak.
Author 7 books96 followers
November 27, 2019
The story followed the same pattern as the last three books, so getting less exciting (even though there's plenty of action, we know what to expect). Also, what started as a Young Adult series has now added a lot of cussing. Not sure why that happened. The rest of the story still is more simple and deals with teenage themes, so it's out of place. Oh well. I'll read the last one to finish the series.
Profile Image for Pamela Smith.
19 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2017
Phenomenal series for young and old

I have anxiously read each of these stories, loving the characters and the adventures more than a certain boy with a scar and broken glasses. No whiny time here, just a boy and his growing crew with a moral compass in spite of family, school and social issues. This is such a wonderful series.
Profile Image for Alexander Draganov.
Author 30 books154 followers
June 21, 2017
Victor Kloss passed the world of adventurous fantasy as a meteor - for too short a time, but he shined so very brightly. "The Last Guardian" is his best book, full with magic, adventures and lovable heroes - I especially liked the friendship between Ben and Joshua.
Read review in Bulgarian here:
http://citadelata.com/the-last-guardi...
20 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2017
Ok I love This series! I was so saddened to read of the authors death. The story was fantastic and the writing had just the right amount of humor and wit. I’ll be recommending this to everyone and can’t wait to read the final installment, which as far as I have heard will be here by the end of the year.
Profile Image for Deb Jacobs.
469 reviews2 followers
June 28, 2020
More Harry Potter - especially meeting Ben’s parents who say pretty much the same as James and Lily in Deathly Hallows.

Some Americanisms which jar. ‘Come with’, with no personal pronouns, ‘gotten’ and ‘social security number’.

Other than that, the story progresses nicely and, in true Harry Potter fashion, they unite all the artefacts just as the war begins.
Profile Image for Becky Christensen.
38 reviews3 followers
July 21, 2017
Great Read!

I really love the characters in this book series. If you love Harry Potter, you'll love The Royal Institute of Magic series. Friendship, danger, magic, and an evil enemy, this series has them all. Can't wait to read the final book in the series.
12 reviews
October 9, 2017
Wonderful Series

I have read all of these books and highly recommend them. Once I started I couldn't put them down. I started reading them after my 7 year old grandson kept telling me I must do so! And he was right.
7 reviews
December 28, 2017
What a great build up!

I have really enjoyed this series. So well written. Characters still developing and there is great story continuity. I am going to try and buy hard copy to keep. Well done!
14 reviews
January 14, 2018
Another great installment on an amazing adventure!!!

Instead of doing much needed homework I am definitely starting the next book straight away! This series is AMAZING!!! If you’re looking for a thrilling adventure this is DEFINITELY THE SERIES TO READ!
65 reviews
January 18, 2019
The Last Guardian

This is book 6 in the Royal Institute of Magic series. It continues the tale of the search for the magical weapons and armor needed to win a war. The characters are interesting and you'll have a hard time putting the book down. I recommend this series.
Profile Image for Dennis.
78 reviews1 follower
December 20, 2019
Nicely segmented!

A nice semi final book as characters meld together and become a team. Things are coming together for a final big battle that should be exciting. In this book there are a nice group of semi stories that make sense when wound together for a nice read.
22 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2017
An exciting, imaginative adventure

I liked the hard choices the heroes had to make: the paths of failure until unexpected successes, the complex and unanticipated friendships.
Profile Image for July.
275 reviews5 followers
June 15, 2017
my favorite of the 5 books. will the 6th ever be published? will it sound and feel the same as the first 5? i don't know... i lost a new favorite author today.
Profile Image for Jyl.
118 reviews
July 19, 2017
So good. Exciting and creative.
77 reviews
July 25, 2017
Great!

Can't wait for book 6! Also, a prequel and a sequel, pretty please! Mystery, intrigue, likeable characters, a fun romp. Books 4 and 5 are the best in this series.😀
Profile Image for Geni.
17 reviews6 followers
August 12, 2017
Amazing!

Don't ask what it's about - Just read it. This is a great series and I highly recommend it. Highly!!!!
1 review5 followers
August 17, 2017
An intriguing series

An easy read. A fun book that keeps your interest and makes it impossible to not read the next one.
20 reviews
September 30, 2017
So Exciting!

I have enjoyed this great series. This book has lots of action, can't wait for the next one to be released!
7 reviews
November 30, 2017
Captivating.

I have enjoyed reading this series of books. Looking forward to finishing with the war with the dark elves and the return of Bens parents.
123 reviews
December 27, 2017
A wonderful story!!

This is a wonderful story!! It answers questions and gives you more! I am looking forward to the final book and excited to read this to my kids!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews

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