The Guardian

The Immortal Dealers #2

by Sarah Fine

Life and death are a gamble for a girl fighting to save humanity in a world she’s only beginning to understand.

One minute, Ernestine “Ernie” Terwilliger was a fairly normal young woman with an almost normal life. Absent father. Peculiar mother. Family secrets. The next, she was hurled into a land where the Immortal Dealers are waging a battle between good and evil—and where the fate of the world is in the cards.

Having only started to master her own deck, the inexperienced Ernie places the wrong bet on the right guy at the worst time. That’s when she’s bounced into another realm by a formidable and power-hungry rogue Dealer who knows more about Ernie’s fractured family than Ernie herself does.

Now, Ernie’s fight to free herself from the trap of the dimensional barriers is only the beginning. As the secrets of Ernie’s father and his own relics of power start to surface, Ernie will need to tell friend from foe—a feat not as easy as it seems.

At least now she has a full deck…because to survive secrets, betrayals, and dangerous dimensions, she’ll need to deal the best hand.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2018

About the author

When I'm not writing, I'm psychologizing (really, I even get a paycheck for it). Sometimes I do both at the same time. The results are unpredictable.

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Reviews

[h o l l i s · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well this took an awkward turn.

So, nothing I enjoyed about book one was present in this second instalment. The heroine was even less appealing than she was in THE SERPENT (like, downright annoying, frustrating, and totally whiney, though, hey a lot less reminiscing about her Spartan days), we spend half the book in a whole new area of this Immortal Dealers world (sorta), and the only mildly interesting part of this entire book was the ending.

All the characters I was excited to see more of and explore the strange and complex and conflict-y dynamic, well.. none of them really stepped up in THE GUARDIAN. It was all just drama and frustration. And lets not even talk about the romance. Throw in some boredom (seriously, every chapter was rewarded with like twenty minutes of phone time, which meant this took a while to get through..) and I'm just all around disappointed.

If this is a trilogy, I will probably snag the final book but if this is to be an expanded series, I won't bother. I'm super sad because I have read a lot of great things from Fine, though granted a few have left me wanting, but the switch from book one to two in this series was so drastic that I'm just at a loss right now.

This one star is probably a bit harsh but I really can't find it in me to round up.


** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

[Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

*I've received an e-copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review *

The Guardian is a second installment in the Immortal Dealers series. Well, I actually enjoyed this book more than the first book, but honestly it’s still not a great read for me. In every book, I always find something missing in it. It doesn’t have that wow factor. The characters were okay-ish but it does have an interesting story-line with a unique concept and that’s why I’m still sticking to this series. As a newbie dealer, Ernie’s adventurous journey continues in this sequel.

The book starts off with Ernie’s first mission as a dealer somewhere in Ukraine. Gabe is once again absent from her life. In the previous installment, while saving Gabe’s life, Ernie merges her card with Gabe’s and it creates a new card which builds a unique bond between them. Though they’ve defeated Duncan, they still have a major threat named Virginia, a dangerous power hungry dealer. She wants to become the next forger by defeating the current forger Andy, but first she needs the forger marks which was safely hidden in Gabe’s care. While fighting Virginia, Ernie gets pushed into another dimension. To find a way back to her home, Ernie needs to search for her father who’s been missing from their life for twenty years.

Ernie is not my favorite protagonist but she’s pretty likable. After the events in the first book, She’s finally getting used to being a dealer and her bond with her diamondback deck grows strong. She still likes Gabe even though he’s reluctant to return her feelings. Gabe is still being a broody guy and wants to deny his attraction to Ernie. The romance in this book is very light because it’s not the central focus in this series. If you’re looking for an urban fantasy read with strong romance then you might be disappointed with this one. As for the supporting characters, I didn’t care much about them, but I really liked the new guy Kot.

The plot was interesting filled with magic and adventure but the pacing seemed slow in most parts. I’ve skipped some pages because I was getting bored. It took a long time before things started to get interesting. I’ve enjoyed Ernie’s adventure with Kot in another dimension. It’s too bad that he wasn’t the love interest. I liked the action and adventure. There were some surprising twists especially the last one. Though this book answered some questions, it left us with even more questions. The writing style was good. As usual, this book was written in third person POV. The magical concept in this was very creative but it was very hard to grasp. It took some time for me to understand how everything worked.

Overall, it was a good read but nothing exciting! The book was finally concluded with an interesting twist and I might check out the next book when it comes out.

Recommend it?
YES

Personally, this wasn’t my favorite urban fantasy series but it wasn’t a bad series either. If you want to check out this series then definitely give it a shot. Who knows, you might enjoy it more than I did?

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

I enjoyed the first book of this series, The Serpent, back in July, so I was happy and grateful that I was approved for the ARC of this sequel.

We are back with Ernestine “Ernie” Terwilliger as she is trying to find what's happened with her father and figuring out her relationship with another Dealer, Gabe. Her attempt brings her to another dimension when another power-hungry Dealer hurtles her there. Ernie needs to find her way out of the dimension before losing her memories and being victim of dangerous grasshopper monster.

I don't know how to review this without spoiling the story -- basically because my reaction to this book RELATES closely to a number of plot twists. So forgive me, in advance, if I mistakenly spoil something.

There are several a couple of updates with this universe that makes my jaw dropped. First of all, we finally find out about what happened with Redmond Terwilliger, Ernie's father. I was quite satisfied with that plot.

Another one is what happened with Virginia, the Chicken Dealer, who betrayed the team in the last book, and Andy the Forger, who is hungry for chaos and has made life hell for the Dealers. I seriously wonder what will happen in the next books because of this -- what will the repercussions be for ALL of the Dealers. It's exciting and concerning at the same time.

In terms of Ernie's romantic interest with Gabe, I'm still unsure about how I feel about it. Gabe is 'missing' in most of this book because Ernie is thrown into another dimension. And I believe they still need a LOT to talk about their feeling and how they will take the relationship forward. So, I guess we shall see how Ms. Fine deals with it in the next books.

All in all, it's a great sequel. Hope to see book #3 somewhere in not-too-distant future




The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series The Serpent with its never give up heroine and quite unique take on the paranormal. The idea of ‘Dealers’ connected to a deck of cards that is personified by a creature of some kind really caught my imagination and as there’s an arc going through about chaos and how it’s manipulated by these immortals I was extremely keen to see how things would progress.
Ernie is our heroine and everything that’s happened to her is because her missing father was a Dealer. Ernie is obviously on the hunt to find him but she’s unfortunately made a very powerful enemy and this story takes her far away from everyone she knows to a dimension where her memories quickly fade. Ernie might be new to the life of a Dealer but she’s already bonded with her deck and Legs the snake who fiercely guards it but in this dangerous world not even Legs can help her and time for Ernie and those she cares about is quickly running out.
Yes I still enjoy this world the author has created but unfortunately there’s a couple of things in this story that prevented me giving it a higher rating. The continuation of a romance between Ernie and fellow Dealer Gabe just felt really off and at times I saw him more as an enemy in disguise than someone who actually cared about Ernie. The other thing that I really struggled with was Ernie's father, no spoilers but what we learn about him just made him seem pretty unlikeable and I’d wanted a character with substance who could feel like a worthy parent to Ernie. Now all that being said this was a cracking story with so much imagination put into the action between the Dealers. As this book ends there’s a huge shake up in the hierarchy of the Dealers that will obviously have repercussions making the next book a must read for me.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because this is an urban fantasy series, I recommend listening to audios in the series in the order of their release. Ernestine “Ernie” Terwilliger found herself a dealer when she stole cards from a would be thief, and found herself caught up in chaos as Immortal Dealers wage a battle between good and evil. In this installment Ernie finds herself in another realm when she sides with the wrong dealer. She will have to use her wit, trust friends and if she is lucky save her long-lost father in the process!

The Guardian pulled me in from the opening paragraphs and held me to the last sentence. Poor Ernie is inexperienced in her knowledge of the cards, world and rules. She is just scratching the surface of mastering her own deck and is literally bouncing from assignment to assignment. To make matters worse, she hasn’t heard from Gabe, the immortal dealer who helped her and kissed her in the first book.

While I will admit I was pretty annoyed at Gabe, Fine gives us reasons, acceptable ones and any scenes involving him were fantastic. He is supportive of Ernie and help her grow as a dealer. Ernie, despite her initial reluctance is pretty kickass and we see her grow by leaps and bounds. I like the dealers she has surrounded herself with and Fine continues to give us history on them. We meet new characters and Ernie’s father. I am curious about someone Ernie met in the other realm and will leave you to discover them.

The story makes me think of my son playing Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and I get chuckle telling him about the audiobooks. Fine has such a vivid imagination and her take on the other realm with its giant insects and rules created an intense listen. As exciting as the adventure was, it was the tidbits and additional world building that rocked for me. From the cards to the forger who makes them; it enchanted me.

Carly Robins continues to narrate the series and has become the voice of Ernie for me. She gives each character a unique voice and enhances Fine’s interpretation. From the pacing to her control during an intense scene she makes listening a pleasure. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Hélène Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I thank Netgalley and 47North for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

A very good sequel to "The serpent": if you have liked the first book of the series you'll probably like this one as much.
I appreciated some nice inventivity for the middle part, with a strong atmosphere and an interesting point of view.
I also like that the author doesn't drag for books and books some situations and managed to close some of them.
The relation between Ernie and Gabe evolves in a credible and nuanced way, I liked the new characters, especially one who's not quite what we would have believe at first (nebulous l know, but no spoils!)
To be continued :)

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

The Guardian is the second installment in author Sara Fine's Immortal Dealers series. The story continues the adventures of Ernestine "Ernie" Terwilliger who has become one of the Immortal Dealers after the events of the first installment. She has been given her first solo mission by Andy, the Forger, which takes her to the chaos ridden area of Russia and Ukraine. In all reality, Ernie has only had her full deck of cards for amount 8 weeks now and she is getting used to the power behind them and what she is able to do with her cards.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Such an extraordinary idea that Dealers, with spirit animals living on their arms to assist them, carry cards with words that are used alone or in different combinations to create magic powers that help them fight for good or evil. The fate of the dealer comes down to their skill in dealing their cards. Ernie has recently become the Diamondback snake dealer and is still just getting used to using her deck. She struggles to help maintain the balance of good against evil in her world. Their leader, the Forger, assigns tasks to the dealers to create chaos and he creates objects that pits them against each other to create more chaos. All are trying to hold on to their own power and alliances are forming. Ernie's dad was a dealer but he left 20 years ago and no one has seen him since. A power hungry dealer attacks Ernie's friend/lover and as she is helping him fight, Ernie is sent to and trapped in another dimension. She has to try and find her way back to her home dimension before she forgets who she is and loses her powers. In her journey, she must discover her father's secrets if she is to return and help her allies. This is the second book in the The Immortal Dealers series. I had not read the first book so it took me a while to understand the world building and magical adventures but I do think this worked well as a stand alone. It is such a creative idea for a series that I will go back and read the first book and will continue reading the series when future books are released. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Tiera McMillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dang, I really had high hopes for this series. I was expecting after the first book that our FMC Ernie would really have her stuff together but that just wasn't the case. I kept hoping that she was going to pull out all the stops and be awesome but the way the story played out she never really got that opportunity. Though I liked the book ok it just fell short of what I was hoping for.

In this book Ernie is working for the Forger trying to find out info about her missing father. She once again comes up against the villains from the last book who are still plotting. She gets banished to an alternate universe which both tampers with her memories and her cards, and must find her father, and somehow remember how to get back. I was underwhelmed by Ernie once again, though I understand that she just fell into being a dealer, I just expected more from her and her abilities.

We do get more information and backstory which was great but I am not really sure how it is going to help us in the long run. Also, just like in the last book there is tons of opposition for Ernie when she wants to work together with other dealers. I just really want Ernie to be awesome. I am not really sure what is in store for these characters but I am hoping that this doesn't drag out too much farther. We just make so little progress before a big push back.

[Ludivine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un deuxième tome qui ne tient pas les promesses du 1er...encore une fois. Les personnages font du sur place et ont des réactions immatures, les scènes d’action m’ont ennuyée ....j’ai aimé le passage dans une autre dimension avec son côté aventure mais cela n’a pas suffi à sauver le livre. Dommage car l’idée de départ était bonne.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. I think the magic system is really interesting, essentially using a special desk of cards with actions that can be combined to form spells by the "dealer". There weren't as many opportunities for magic battles in this one, because our heroine is trapped in an alternate world - and I was a bit disappointed with the results of her reunion with someone else trapped there. But the ending! It really opens things up for some interesting possibilities in the next book.

This review is on a ARC copy received via NetGalley.

[Sandra Berryman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had just read an urban fantasy book which was spectacular; unfortunately, this book has characters that I could not care about or like and a story line that if you weren't a Dungeons and Dragons player couldn't relate to. It made no sense to me and I found myself skipping through the second half of it. Not a book I would recommend. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this installment would have Ernie learning more about how to deal the cards and the other dealers--instead, she's dropped into another new world that she knows nothing about. I also felt this was fairly repetative--she was abandoned by her father, so she has trust issues. Spartan race is her motivation and internal encouragement for everything. She likes to run. I got all that in the first book. I don't need to read it every 3rd page again.

[Victoria (nocturnalintimacy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Kindle Unlimited.

Ugghhhh. This is SO disappointing. The author has this incredibly unique and creative world, and the story just wilts because of the characters. Ernie sucks. She's constantly the weak link both physically and emotionally. I'm over her, and I don't think she deserves her deck.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in July, I read and adored Sarah Fine's The Serpent. After enjoying that first book, you bet I was excited to pick up The Guardian. The Guardian turned out to be a solid sequel that managed to surprise me on more than one occasion. Don't you just love when a book can do that?

Ernie, as in the previous book, continued to be a delight in The Guardian. She is becoming more and more comfortable with her magical deck of cards and is learning more about herself daily. However, she is still a young dealer, so when a mistake propels her into another realm, it's up to her to figure out how to find her father and get back home. I was really happy to be reunited with Ernie. She was a brilliant and endearing character, who I quickly grew to love in the first book. In The Guardian, she continued to grow and mature, becoming more comfortable with her newfound abilities. Ernie was someone who loved and cared for people deeply and we get to see those personality traits of hers especially emphasized in this book. She went through a lot in The Serpent, but it's nothing compared to what she had to go through in The Guardian. Yet, Ernie remained true to herself and evolved into a braver, more fearless and more capable version of the Ernie we met in the first book. Gabe, the dealer who helped her out in the first book, was also back in this book. At first, I was a bit annoyed at him for disappearing from Ernie's life with no contact, but he was going through his own obstacles, and I understood where he was coming from. Though Gabe didn't appear as often as I would have liked in this sequel, whenever he was around, he continued to remain a faithful and invaluable partner to Ernie. Their romantic attraction to each other continued to flourish and though there were moments of uncertainty, I think it's safe to say that these two make for a powerful couple.

The plot here was even more engaging than in the first book and I enjoyed the heck out of that first book! Sarah Fine continues to amaze me with these bold and creative worlds that she creates. She truly is one of the most imaginative authors out there for me. The whole other realm that Ernie was sucked into was quite fascinating with the giant grasshoppers terrorizing the folks of the village. Ernie also meets a new friend who was as intriguing as the main cast to me. The whole book had a bit of an adventurous vibe to it with Ernie navigating this new dimension and trying to figure out what happened to her father. We also learn more about Ernie's father, the magical decks and the Forger, the one who created the decks for his own entertainment. I also enjoyed reading more of the other dealers and their morphing relationships with each other - their dynamics are just so much fun. I have to say, Sarah Fine completely stunned me with the ending of The Guardian. It wasn't an ending I ever saw coming and I'm excited to see the repercussions that finale will have on the characters and the world in the future. Ernie and her friends have a long and arduous battle ahead for sure!

As a sequel, The Guardian was impeccable. If you're looking for a fresh and fun UF series, The Immortal Dealers series is a must-read.

[Boglárka · Rating 4 out of 5]

„No matter what came, she would never give up and never surrender.”

Shuffle the cards

Ernie now returned as the Diamondback in her full strength owning a full deck of card, however, it is not so easy to keep the trumps in her right hand, for the other Dealers are not exactly always above board and playing according to Hoyle. Not to mention Gabe, who seems to be two minded about this Immortal deal that prolonged his life with more than a century having no family left. It is actually really moving to see his doubts and his closeness to the final decision of giving his life up to the Forger and it is soo sad to watch Gabe struggling like this. ‘Cause we can’t see but the silver lining of immortality: never-ending the beach parties, immense wealth and a bunch of other stuff, doesn’t it sound fun? But. Here we can observe the depression that evermore casts upon Gabe.
Although Gabe doesn’t get a fair share of the story as much as I’d like, but at least I got the suspense waiting for him to get tangled in the string of this immortal madness. Because I miss him. A lot. And Ernie does too. I heart their ship because it is not perfect at all and they attempt to figure out and realize some kind of compromise in the midst of the treachery and stealth of their fellow card shufflers. Even with all the wits and creativity, she got stuck in another dimension trying to get back to Gabe before all hell breaks loose.

Jumping on my nerves

Kot was obviously a joker in the pack and I welcomed new characters and the best part I didn’t suspect what card he’s got up in his sleeve. That doesn’t relate to Nuria his nuts-grasshopper-girlfriend who Freaked. Me. Out. Ughhh…huge insects touch some soft spot of mine.
As for the long-lost father, he is definitely not playing with his full deck. I don’t dare forebode a great future for a heartwarming daughter-daddy family reunion as he has too many bad deeds to expiate. I don’t feel too much sympathy for him so it is time to liquidate him as soon as possible, if you ask me.

Fangirling

I kinda lovehate Ernie and Gabe dialogues because while they bring so much tension, I became impatient at the same time and I was like “you know, it is time to realize you’re better together than off and please, PLEASE confess your everlasting undying love for each other and go to bed finally”. What? It is a win-win situation ;)

Rating

4 out of 5

I need to admit the tug of wars went a bit haywire, so I’m not quite sure where exactly we stand now but I’ll find out in the third volume I guess.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Guardian" the second installment in the "Immortal Dealers" series opens with Ernestine (Ernie) struggling to master her deck; Gabe considering giving up his deck; and Virginia pursuing the power that will enable her to overthrow Andy and become the next Forger.

In this plot Ernie is swept into a splinter dimension where she forms a friendship with Kot the owner of the Dragonfly deck; confronts the monstrous grasshopper Nuria; and searches for her long-lost father while she struggles to find a way back to her world before she loses her memory of it.

Innovative and creative in concept the plot is filled with magic and adventure as Ernie not only battles Virginia and a monstrous grasshopper with an unusual origin but strives to get back to her world before Gabe makes a fatal decision. With twists and turns that heighten the suspense the plot thickens. Yet amid all the action especially when Gabe, Ernie, Minh and Tarlae confront the Forger hoping to make a deal, Gabe and Ernie continuely explore their feelings for each other which could be costly when examined in light of Tarlae's heartbreak.

Ernie Terwilliger continues to grow and develop in this story not only in strength and fighting spirit as the Diamondback Dealer but in her character as she shows a sensitive, compassionate and loving side to those she loves or cares for. In the same respect Gabe explores his feelings for Ernie and his decisions becoming more protective and self-sacrificing in his need to keep her safe. There are wonderful new characters that help built the intensity of the plot like the warm and humorous Dragonfly Dealer Kot in love with a woman who unwillingly morphs into a monstrous creature as well as Ernie's difficult and tactless father Redmond.

Although I found the flow of the plot slow at times, I did enjoy "The Guardian" as it heated up with betrayals, secrets and a violent confrontation with surprising results at the end.

[B.A. Malisch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like this series a lot, but you have to pay really close attention, or else you miss important things. Since I listened to the audiobook, I found myself slowing down the speed and rewinding far more than usual, just to make sure I was focused and fully understood the world building and storyline.

I think of all of Sarah Fine's books, of which I have read many, this one has the worst character building, which is disappointing. Now, I say worst, and I mean worst for Fine, because she still does better character building that other authors I have read. However, I'm used to really becoming invested in not only the main characters but also the side characters, which seems much harder to do with this series. There is lots of action, but it seems to have misplaced some of the character development, which I don't enjoy as much.

Still the concept is stellar, and the pacing for the plot seems good. I just think there's a little something missing, in terms of the characters, their relationships, and their emotions. I'm two books in and still can't keep some of the side characters straight. That is leaving me feeling just a bit more disconnected that I usually feel when reading a Fine book. Regardless, I'm powering onward, as I want to know how it all works out.

Pages: 284

[Snarktastic Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book disappointed me. We still have the intriguing world . . . which honestly kept me reading . . . but this book seemed like a filler book to me. It felt as though its only purpose was to put pieces in place for the epic conclusion. I suppose that is not to be unexpected for the middle book of a trilogy, it is something that constantly annoys me. The first book sets up a world, the second book builds pieces, and finally the actual story happens in the final book. As I got to the 75% mark, I realized I did not want to read this. Oh, I wanted to finish, I wanted to know what happened, I just didn't want to read it. But, I stuck it out.

Part of the problem here is we spent a great deal of time away from the people we met in the first of the series. Of course, we meet NEW people, but part of the joy of a trilogy is hanging out with a group of characters. Now, in THIS series, most of the characters are flat NOT likable so it doesn't really matter . . . buuuttt . . .

Other than introducing new characters, not a lot happens here. There are lots of players and pieces being put in place for the next installment, but not a lot here. I enjoyed it enough to finish it and it set in place enough that I knew I wanted to finish the trilogy, but had this been longer than a trilogy, I'm not sure I would have continued from here.

[Ozsaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was a fun book, with plenty of action, some good battle scenes, and a tighter story line than the first book. I still like Ernie (the main character) very much. I'm not as sure about Gabe. He kept running hot, and cold, hot, and cold, and I didn't blame Ernie for being confused, and frustrated.

It's the world building that makes me want to read the next book. This book went deeper into what a Dealer is, what a Forger can do, and how valuable the old Forger artifacts are. It also went into the structure of the universe when Ernie ended up in a different world. That part of the story had me turning pages to find out more.

I enjoy the creativity of this series. There are a lot of fun ideas, and they're used in a very interesting way. While the there is a lot of good ideas, there's also a bit of predictability. I saw a couple of things coming a mile away, and I was irritated that the characters themselves weren't prepared. I also don't like Gabe's development.

The second book in a trilogy is often the weakest one, but not in this case. Looking forward to next book.

[Abra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernie is an immortal dealer. She got her cards in the first book.

The book starts with Ernie trying to return a Russian soldier back to Russia. Then the Forger gives her a job. The Forger is someone who used to be a dealer, but now tells them what to do and is more powerful than any of them. On one hand, Virginia sends Ernie to another dimension, but on the other hand this is where Virginia likes to send people, kind of like Siberia. So, it turns out that Ernie's dad is there somewhere.

She hasn't seen Gabe, the hero, in two months. Gabe is pretty angsty and is sending out really mixed signals that hurts Ernie a lot. He has announced that he's thinking of giving up his cards. This means death and Ernie is terrified that he will do it. To explain his actions to Ernie, one of the other dealers comments about Gabe: "But if he's not sure whether he wants to stick around or not, I'm thinking it's probably hard for him to be around her."

This is as good as the first book and I recommend it.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of The Guardian (The Immortal Dealers Series, Book 2) by Sarah Fine in exchange for an honest review. I did not read the first book, but I had no problem following the concept and the storyline of this book. If you are looking for a grade school book report in my review, you will be disappointed.

The Guardian appears to be an innovative series premise; a little reminiscent of green lantern with the powers of immortal dealers somewhat limited by their imagination. At times when I was afraid it was getting a little formulaic Ms. Fine surprised me, especially at the end. The overall theme I picked up through the book which I assume will be in the subsequent books of this series is to get over your apathy and do something good. A good mantra for everyone. The lead character, "Ernie", is an energetic woman who can't give up on people or good causes and is shaking up the immortal dealers who have become disengaged with humans and the world.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernie is back in this second book of the series. She is thrown into another dimension by an enemy where she makes some very interesting discoveries after having a little bit of time adjusting to her new deck and being a Dealer. Yes, I am being a little vague as I don’t want to spoil this book; the book has many things happen in here I don’t want to give away. I enjoyed this book a little more than the first one and I did get to be more comfortable with the universe and the different type of paranormal (which I find wonderful). However, I still don’t feel too much of the connection between Ernie and Gabe. I just want to yell at him sometimes for his attitude, and I can find him a little bit of a wet blanket. However, I really did enjoy this and was stunned at the end as I don’t know what is going to happen to the Dealers now. I will definitely be picking up the next one. Highly recommend! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Helen Wawrejko · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Immortal Dealer, Ernestine Terrwilliger (Ernie), has the Diamondback deck. A tattoo "familiar" helps her and can emerge from her arm and manifest. Pulled into an alternate realm by Virginia, she searches for her father while she tries to return to the earth realm. Very innovative magic. Dealing the cards to create magic. Shield, food, attack, lift trucks, manifest clothes and vehicles. The authors imagination is all encompassing. Storyline is top notch, and makes this a cannot put down book. Romance is intertwined in this thriller with Gabe and Ernie. Side characters and their decks are fascinating in their own right. 2nd book in the series, not a standalone. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ernestine “Ernie” Terwilliger is now playing with a full deck. She is one of the immortal dealers who use magical cards that are also the animals tattooed on their skin. Her father had been one, and has been missing for twenty years. In The Guardian (paper from 47North), Sarah Fine finds Ernie sent to an alternate universe where a giant grasshopper is eating people. Her father had been sent there twenty years before. Is he still alive? This is a fun series, but this second adventure is a bit generic.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press

[Brianna Belbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just as great as the first! Ernie is transported into another realm where she starts to lose her memory, but needs to find her way back to save those she loves. We find out more about her dad and Virginia (The Chicken Dealer), which has brought so many twists and turns that it’s hard to put down. With the ending that it had, I can’t wait until the next book is released!

[Manola Dobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Guardian

This book was heart wrenching and not for the faint of heart. It is definitely not my favorite, as a matter of a fact; I didn't like it. For every good thing that happened; a worst thing countered it. The book became who could top the other and the plot suffered. No I can't recommend this book. Although the book is excellent in almost every way, it is not happy.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

the More She Writes, The Better She Gets

I haven't read all of Sarah's books, but I'm getting there. I've enjoyed the ones I have read, finding them to be arresting, well-written and entertaining. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

[Ingrid Rønningen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book didn't really live up to the plot and excitement of the universe as the first book, but the ending wasn't that terrible, saving the story all together. I think the author might save this creative tale in the end if her last book "The Warrior" has a thrilling plot. Excited to see...