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Magic: The Gathering: Kamigawa Cycle #3
Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa
The concluding title in a series that peers into a mysterious new area of the Magic(R) world.
"Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa "concludes a series that explores a new and mysterious area of the Magic: The Gathering world that fans have never seen before. This novel previews the newest trading card game set to be released in June, giving fans a sneak peek at the new elements of the game.
AUTHOR BIO: SCOTT MCGOUGH is a former Magic: The Gathering line continuity guru for Wizards of the Coast, Inc. His most recent novels are the Magic Legends Cycle Two trilogy, "Outlaw: Champions of Kamigawa," and "Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa." He has contributed short stories to "The Myths of Magic," "The Dragons of Magic," and "The Monsters of Magic "anthologies.
"Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa "concludes a series that explores a new and mysterious area of the Magic: The Gathering world that fans have never seen before. This novel previews the newest trading card game set to be released in June, giving fans a sneak peek at the new elements of the game.
AUTHOR BIO: SCOTT MCGOUGH is a former Magic: The Gathering line continuity guru for Wizards of the Coast, Inc. His most recent novels are the Magic Legends Cycle Two trilogy, "Outlaw: Champions of Kamigawa," and "Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa." He has contributed short stories to "The Myths of Magic," "The Dragons of Magic," and "The Monsters of Magic "anthologies.
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
17 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Scott McGough
29 books12 followersScott McGough lives in Seattle with a pair of cats and an Australian Cattle Dog. He has written or co-written over a dozen novels and short stories for Magic: The Gathering; he also provided random pirate voices for an upcoming computer game and portrayed a shambling, gut-munching zombie extra in a local low-budget film. Based on his acting performances so far, everyone agrees he should keep writing.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 17, 2024
Totalmente innecesaria esta trilogía que podría haber dado un poco de sentido y trasfondo a las expansiones del juego de cartas, pero se queda en un quiero y no puedo.
Un mix raro entre película dominguera y lectura ágil que se llena de acción sin mucho sentido ni calidad.
Un mix raro entre película dominguera y lectura ágil que se llena de acción sin mucho sentido ni calidad.
March 16, 2018
A satisfying end to a solid MTG story arc. Early in the book Toshi, the endearing rogue, was uncharacteristically weak and indecisive. Thankfully, the Toshi we'd come to love in the early books of the trilogy reasserted himself and the saga ended on a high note.
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November 10, 2022A fittingly fun end to Hasbro's Jaunt through Fantasy Feudal Japan.
After 2 books that scoundrel Toshi Umezawa is finally, undeniably, the sole main character this time. As our co-main from previous books Lady Pearl-Ear is almost totally absent for most of the one, along with associated side characters like her brother Sharp-Ear and Princess Michiko. (Though I will note that the Princess's appearance here, while shorter, is much much more satisfying.) As our protagonist Toshi sets out to tie-up loose ends and bring our story to a close. But not to worry, he doesn't forget to keep looking out for number one along the way. Some of the strongest action scenes and most fun character work in the series. A worthy conclusion.
After 2 books that scoundrel Toshi Umezawa is finally, undeniably, the sole main character this time. As our co-main from previous books Lady Pearl-Ear is almost totally absent for most of the one, along with associated side characters like her brother Sharp-Ear and Princess Michiko. (Though I will note that the Princess's appearance here, while shorter, is much much more satisfying.) As our protagonist Toshi sets out to tie-up loose ends and bring our story to a close. But not to worry, he doesn't forget to keep looking out for number one along the way. Some of the strongest action scenes and most fun character work in the series. A worthy conclusion.
March 10, 2019
I had hoped that the upward trend in quality would continue from the last book, but I was sadly disappointed. There was not really a drop, but no real improvement, either.
It tied up all of the loose threads of the story well enough, but it was somewhat reminiscent of Fifth Dawn in that the entire plot had been reduced down to nothing but stopping these 3 entities rampaging around unchecked (Hidestugu, Konda, and O-Kagachi). The interesting departure from the linear good vs evil in the rest of this trilogy was missing.
I think I'm mostly looking forward to getting to Ravnica, now, and then the Mending to get into the modern era where I actually have a frame of reference.
It tied up all of the loose threads of the story well enough, but it was somewhat reminiscent of Fifth Dawn in that the entire plot had been reduced down to nothing but stopping these 3 entities rampaging around unchecked (Hidestugu, Konda, and O-Kagachi). The interesting departure from the linear good vs evil in the rest of this trilogy was missing.
I think I'm mostly looking forward to getting to Ravnica, now, and then the Mending to get into the modern era where I actually have a frame of reference.
May 22, 2024
Sin duda, mi libro favorito de la trilogía, sobre todo porque han convertido a Toshi en lo que es: un pringado. Sin embargo, no puedo dejar pasar todos los comentarios sobre que Michiko es muy guapa. 💀
El final es magnífico, pero el problema de que la chicha de la trilogía solo está aquí. Le daría más estrellas, pero es que hay que leerse los dos primeros para entenderlo todo y son un poco muermo.
El final es magnífico, pero el problema de que la chicha de la trilogía solo está aquí. Le daría más estrellas, pero es que hay que leerse los dos primeros para entenderlo todo y son un poco muermo.
June 11, 2020
Verschluckt sich nach großartigem Beginn etwas am Maßstab der Geschehnisse. Anstelle der interessanten Individuen herrscht irgendwann der anonyme Gleichmacher großer Schlachten, es wird mehr gestorben, aber es interessiert leider auch etwas weniger. Das Finale mit Michiko und Kyodai gegen O-Kagachi setzt dem im negativen Sinne die Krone auf. Viele "große Momente" machen noch kein großes Buch.
July 11, 2025
Phenomenal ending to a near-perfect trilogy
This trilogy is part of my bi annual re-read list for a reason. The very best of MTG fantasy paired with logical power scaling and well written characters
This trilogy is part of my bi annual re-read list for a reason. The very best of MTG fantasy paired with logical power scaling and well written characters
May 10, 2019
Riko is a lesbian.
October 23, 2011
"Toshi shook his head. He was no soldier and he had never gone to war, but even he knew you didn't defeat an army by killing half your own in the process. If the snakes could harness the power of Jukai and make the land itself fight for them, they had a chance. Otherwise, the soratami would surely scour them away in a matter of weeks."
Guardian by Scott McGough is the final novel from Wizards of the Coasts' Kamigawa Cycle for the Magic the Gathering novel line. The trilogy was written in support of its Champions of Kamigawa expansion.
Scott McGough should be well known to Magic: The Gathering fans, he has written short stories for Myths of Magic, Dragons of Magic and Monsters of Magic. He is also the author of Magic Legends Cycle Two.
Guardian is certainly a worthwhile conclusion to the trilogy. It does not suffer quite the horrendous editing of the first book and it continues with the tight focus and fast pace of the second novel. Indeed with the whole work taken into account I preferred the final two novels a great deal more. The over-long introduction of the first became mired in too many characters and excessive world building which made the trilogy seem a little over long.
But that is unfair to Guardian as it's own story. The scene is set, the story builds to dramatic conclusions and the same epic action and fast-paced high fantasy remain. The conclusion - without giving anything anyway - satisfied bringing almost all of the previously unresolved issues to a satisfying resolution.
As much as our anti-hero has struggled to avert the brewing war between the spirit realm and the mortal world it should come as no surprise that trouble does indeed arrive and he is right in the thick of things.
Guardian offers a good look into the new Magic: The Gathering setting and is likely to excite the fans without even trying. To those unfamiliar or unconcerned with the cards behind the prose, this is still a pretty good read.
The fantasy-oriental setting offers a satisfying departure from the medieval-Western Europe staple that dominates most fantasy, but still delivers magic, dragons and ogres to keep the most die-hard of fantasy fans happy.
As support to the CCG expansion, this trilogy succeeds in offering a greater depth to the world of the card game which fans of the CCG should appreciate much more than the casual reader.
Despite what I just said, I am sure an extensive knowledge of Magic: The Gathering would enhance the reading and enjoyment of this novel. I do not have that level of insider knowledge for example, and although I still enjoyed the book I was aware that I was not getting my full dollar value.
Guardian is a fun read for anyone and would likely be a great read for a die-hard Magic fan.
Final Grade: C+
Guardian by Scott McGough is the final novel from Wizards of the Coasts' Kamigawa Cycle for the Magic the Gathering novel line. The trilogy was written in support of its Champions of Kamigawa expansion.
Scott McGough should be well known to Magic: The Gathering fans, he has written short stories for Myths of Magic, Dragons of Magic and Monsters of Magic. He is also the author of Magic Legends Cycle Two.
Guardian is certainly a worthwhile conclusion to the trilogy. It does not suffer quite the horrendous editing of the first book and it continues with the tight focus and fast pace of the second novel. Indeed with the whole work taken into account I preferred the final two novels a great deal more. The over-long introduction of the first became mired in too many characters and excessive world building which made the trilogy seem a little over long.
But that is unfair to Guardian as it's own story. The scene is set, the story builds to dramatic conclusions and the same epic action and fast-paced high fantasy remain. The conclusion - without giving anything anyway - satisfied bringing almost all of the previously unresolved issues to a satisfying resolution.
As much as our anti-hero has struggled to avert the brewing war between the spirit realm and the mortal world it should come as no surprise that trouble does indeed arrive and he is right in the thick of things.
Guardian offers a good look into the new Magic: The Gathering setting and is likely to excite the fans without even trying. To those unfamiliar or unconcerned with the cards behind the prose, this is still a pretty good read.
The fantasy-oriental setting offers a satisfying departure from the medieval-Western Europe staple that dominates most fantasy, but still delivers magic, dragons and ogres to keep the most die-hard of fantasy fans happy.
As support to the CCG expansion, this trilogy succeeds in offering a greater depth to the world of the card game which fans of the CCG should appreciate much more than the casual reader.
Despite what I just said, I am sure an extensive knowledge of Magic: The Gathering would enhance the reading and enjoyment of this novel. I do not have that level of insider knowledge for example, and although I still enjoyed the book I was aware that I was not getting my full dollar value.
Guardian is a fun read for anyone and would likely be a great read for a die-hard Magic fan.
Final Grade: C+
March 8, 2016
Ja, die Erklärung, dass Toshi ein Planeswalker ist, macht es mir leichter, seine unglaubliche Macht zu verstehen, aber irgendwann wird es einfach langweilig, wie er sich aus jeder Situation rauswindet, -redet, -zaubert...
Auch sonst ist dieses Ende (vom großen Kampf abgesehen) kein großer Höhepunkt zu dieser Erzählung, aber nun habe ich immerhin ein wenig über die Welt Kamigawa gelernt.
Auch sonst ist dieses Ende (vom großen Kampf abgesehen) kein großer Höhepunkt zu dieser Erzählung, aber nun habe ich immerhin ein wenig über die Welt Kamigawa gelernt.
December 31, 2012
Some of the best books about the mtg multiverse.
March 14, 2016
Excellent end to the series. I want more of Toshi and Night's Reach!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews