Guardians of the Keep

The Bridge of D'Arnath #2

by Carol Berg

For ten years, the noblewoman Seriana lived in exile, believing her husband Karon was dead, executed for practicing sorcery. But now she learns his soul has been anchored to this world by magic. He has been restored to life-though his memories of Seri are gone. When Seri's nephew is kidnapped-and a dark family secret comes to light-the two strangers will have to join together to defeat the evil Lords of Zhev'Na, who want to destroy both this world and the parallel magic realm that lies beyond.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Magic, Adult

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 7, 2004

About the author

Carol Berg is the author of the epic fantasy
The Books of the Rai-kirah, The Bridge of D'Arnath Quartet, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award winning Lighthouse Duet - Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone - the standalone novel Song of the Beast , and the three novels of the Collegia Magica.

Berg holds a degree in mathematics from Rice University, and a degree in computer science from the University of Colorado. Before writing full-time, she worked as a software engineer. She lives in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and is the mother of three mostly grown sons.

Reviews

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4.44 ***

"When one is in uttermost despair, no pain or indignity can make it worse."

Man, this was a great second book in the series! It's very emotional, very well told, and very painful at times, but totally worth the time!!!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just.... Chef's kiss!



FRTC

[Jon]

Adding to my BookMooch inventory 2/25/2021: http://bookmooch.com/m/inventory/jonmoss

Condition Notes: Good to fair condition; purchased entire series (shrink wrapped) from a used book store. Would prefer NOT to break up this set. If you request all four books, I will smooch you back one point.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, I had this book completely figured out by page 100 so then it was just a matter of watching the high school chemistry experiment come to its expected ending. Pretty typical of a Book Two in a series. Too bad the main characters ended up falling into very generic roles, because they seemed more interesting in the first book.

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10
Pretty close to perfect for me—lots of twisty surprises, a satisfying conclusion to this installment but it’s obvious the story is not finished.

[Kathryn Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a dark book, but it was very enjoyable. The characters have such depth. I also really liked the magic system.

[Nirkatze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Carol Berg's stories so much. In this second entry, we get some new POVs in addition to Seri--and it is so interesting to see inside these new perspectives heads! They aren't introduced immediately either--whenever a new perspective was revealed for the next chapter it was perfectly timed for when curiosity (or anxiety) for that character was at its height. On the audiobook, a different narrator takes each person, and it makes for a really cool sense of being inside each character's head.

Berg throws in some really painful (and wonderfully twisty) curveballs throughout this entry. I felt the characters' pain, and loved watching the ingenuity of especially Seri & Paolo. Paolo! I love Paolo. If you read this, so will you. My heart breaks so much for Gerick throughout, but that's also what makes the overall story and resolution so powerful.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! It's 3:30am, I have to be at work in 4 hours, and all I can think about is this book I've just finished. The 1st book in the series, "Son of D'Avonar," was ok, but rather blah. I read it several years ago, and only picked up the sequel at a friend's urging. (Also after enjoying Berg's latest books.) This is epic fantasy at its best. I think no one is better than Carol Berg at getting inside the head of a person being filled with darkness, their struggle against it, and eventual loss (or victory).

[Shari S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the first two books.
When I went to download the 3rd onto my Kindle I learned this one is not available in an e-reader format. Why are books 1,2 and 4 available as an e-book but book 3 isn’t?

I found a way to buy it as an iBook or a PDF. I sent the PDF to my Kindle email address and was able to load it on my Kindle that way but what a pain! Why isn’t this one offered as an e-book but the rest of the series is?

Ok. Thanks for reading. I’m finished venting

BTW great series!

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book in the series. I don't often "buy" into love stories in some books... But this one had me. And I found the rest of the book so engaging (the rescue and all that) I could not put it down. Finished it in one day.

[Kyra Dune · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. Even better than the first one. I was dying to fond out was going to happen, but at the same time I didn't want to reach the end because I didn't want the book to be over.

[NekroRider · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Most of this book I loved and would have been another 5 star read. The characters and story were well done, and I enjoyed Berg's style of storytelling. My only problem was the conclusion which was frustrating/disappointing and felt inconsistent with the rest. Son of Avonar remains my favourite of the series so far (easy 5 stars). I loved having Seri as the single pov in SoA, and living her life, experiences. I still loved her povs in this book along with the younger pov in this one who I'll avoid naming. Major spoilers: Saving Gerick and the ease with which it was done at the snap of a finger felt entirely implausible in the context of the story and worldbuilding around Zhe'Vna, the Lords etc. Not only that but it was a far less interesting conclusion than had Gerick remained in the Wastes and joined the Lords. He spent a year or just over a year under the influence of their immense power and darkness. Not only that but it was said earlier throughout the book that the Lords all share minds. It made sense that he might be able to keep a corner of his thoughts to himself before his transformation, but afterwards logically his mind would join with the others. Anyway this and certain other aspects of the conclusion were things that I found frustrating and disappointing after loving the rest of the book. I think that's the other thing. After all the plots and counterplots variously foiled (taking the approach of the good guys not being able to just resolve things easily by planting people in Zhe'Vna etc) the ending just seemed too convenient and easily resolved. Gerick should have remained a Lord imo

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A smoother read than the first though i feel like she changed her mind about seri and made her better this time (nicer, prettier?) though ms berg could never be accused of being too easy on her characters

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay book. Slow at times because of all the buildup but the story was interesting and it had a fairly solid conclusion.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook version. Slightly distracting that different narrators pronounced names differently.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carol Berg is one of my favorite writers. She never disappoints, delivering characters I care about and action that keeps me guessing and engaged.

[Tia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was curious to see how things would continue after the first book, but I can't be bothered to read any further in the series.

[Danella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about Son of Avonar, but I was pleased to find book two fills in quite a few holes regarding magic and the plot in general. Book two also gives us new voices with the first person POVs of Karon and Garick joining Ceri's in this fine sequel. It was all fairly predictable, but that doesn't matter as much in a book so character driven. One truth becomes abundantly clear in these books; it does not pay to get mixed up in Dar'Nethi politics.

How much tragedy, intrigue and miracle can one family possibly endure? Carol Berg puts her characters through an emotional meat grinder and demands that they persevere. The story picks up right where it left off in book one. Seri proceeds to Comigor, just as she said she would, but things turn out very differently than she expected when she becomes entangled with her nephew Garick's affairs. She does have an amazing knack for finding herself in unbelievable situations. Karon/D'Natheil is still mentally challenged and enduring his memory treatments. His two personalities are at opposite ends of the passive/aggressive scale which causes no small amount of internal conflict for the good prince. I keep hoping the two will reach some sort of equilibrium and become one decent man, but I expect the conflict will get worse, rather than better.

After a fairly long intro the story progresses and we see how Karon/D'Nathiel and Garick are unwitting pawns, caught between the Preceptorate and the evil lords of Zhev'Na. Seri, Paulo, and Kellea, all fiercely brave and loyal, throw themselves headlong into a desperate attempt to save a boy and two worlds.

Book two definitely drew me further into the story, anxious to see what happens next. I still felt the pacing was a little off though. It meanders in places it could race. I thought Kellea was seriously shortchanged in this book. She was basically only along because of her gift for finding. Once the lost was further lost, and beyond her skill of finding, she got no further development and was just along for the ride.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm tempted to give this book two stars because I felt cheated at the end. For two books now, I've been waiting for the moment when Karon and Seri are reunited. Seri's held this ten year grudge against her husband for abandoning her and her child b/c he was unwilling to use sorcery to hurt people. Karon, now that he's also the heir of D'Narth (or however you spell it), has killed and understands how much his failure to save his family hurt his wife. When Karon gets his full memory back and he and Seri save Gerick at the end of the book, there should have been a HUGE scene where they get back together and make amends. Instead, we get Paolo telling them to go spend some time alone. WE DON'T GET A REUNION SCENE!!! I'm still ticked about that because, seriously, I read 1,000 pages anticipating it.

I still loved the story of this book, but I wish it would have been about 200 pages shorter. I skimmed A LOT of it, especially in the first half, and don't feel like I missed out on anything important. I was also a bit annoyed reading Gerick's POV. His chapters, especially in the beginning, were all telling and no showing. Huge infodumps that, IMO, really weren't necessary. I groaned every time I had to read about him b/c he allowed himself to be so easily manipulated by the bad guys. I didn't start liking him at all until he met Paolo.

Speaking of Paolo, I really liked him in this book. I didn't have an opinion of him one way or the other in book one, but he definitely added to my enjoyment.

Overall, I liked the book. It just needed to be shorter and have that reunion scene included. I'll eventually read the next book, though I'm a bit worried I'll be let down if the author skips another pivotal scene.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd book in the Avonar series.. or is it the D'Arnath series? Or the Dar'Nethi series? I'm not sure it really matters. You've got Good Magic people against Mundanes, and Black Magic people against both of them. Layers of complexity. Add to that the multiple character perspectives telling the story and it gets hard to keep your head if you hold on too tightly. But if you loosen up and go with the flow, there's fun to be had in this read.

I'm not a great fan of "epic romance" mixed in with my swords and sorcery. There's an element of that happening here. And there seemed to be quite a bit of story-wrangling to get a "more experienced" woman into a relationship with a young dude and keep it "respectable" her dead husband's soul has been kept in a magical-mason-jar (of sorts) and has taken over the young dude's body The characters for various reasons have to start over from square one a couple times (relationship-wise), but at least that kept the romance element of the plot tamped down.

Of course when this volume closes when you'd think our lovers/heroes would settle into stable-relationship-mode, of course they must part for the good of the kingdom... or some nonsense... Third book needed!

I don't know if I'll seek out the third volume. If I run across it, I'll pick it up for a read.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started The Soul Weaver this morning, and it's all I can do to get other things done and not just immerse myself in the book all day.

I'm still annoyed by the names of the characters and places, as if nobody will take your work seriously if the names aren't as weird/exotic as possible, and when Berg's descriptions aren't wonderful, they're a little overwrought. The road to hell is paved with adverbs; the ninth circle is paved with the word "very."

But the plot is interesting and complex, her pacing superb, her characters well-developed, and I was completely blindsided by the twist she threw when Seri, Paulo and Karon are rescuing Gerick from the Lords of Zhev-Na or whatever. I told you the names are annoying.

Can't wait to get into The Soul Weaver.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I absolutely loved the next chronicle in the Bridge of D'Arnath series. Carole Berg has an incredible way with weaving a story that is fully developed and fully realized. Although a few of this novel's twists were not that unexpected, but a few were. I loved it. The only real downside for me was the more frequent shifting between characters as the main protagonist of any one section. (This is also one of the drawbacks to the GoT series, in my opinion, although Berg rotates between protagonists with much less frequency.). I was able to get into this book quicker than the first book, so that was a plus for me. Definitely requested "Soul Weaver," book 3, from the library to continue with this series.

[Kirsten Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It kept me on the edge of my seat pretty much the whole time. There were times when I wanted to throw it across the room, but I think the book has to be pretty good to bring out such an emotional reaction in me. Sometimes I wish the characters were real people so I could tell them off for being so damn stupid.

There were a few things I thought could be improved - seriously, how many times can Karon come back from the dead?, but overall, it was an enjoyable, fast read, with characters I cared about. Looking forward to reading the next one.

[Mary Soon Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Bridge of D'Arnath fantasy quartet. The book cycles between several point-of-view characters. As a result, I spent part of my time looking forward to the sections with my favorite characters. This is a difficulty common to almost all (all?) books with similar structures, from "The Return of the King" to "A Game of Thrones." It isn't always the nicest characters that hook me best. In "A Game of Thrones," I eagerly anticipated Tyrion Lannister's sections. In this book, I found Gerick more more fascinating than Seri, though Seri is nicer. Perhaps as a result, I enjoyed this, but didn't love it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the rare sequels that not only holds up to the quality of the first book, but makes it even better. Carol Berg keeps true to the characters from Son of Avonar, and builds on them to create a new/continuing adventure. I loved the additional action in Guardian of the Keep, and LOVED the twist on an event from the first book (no spoilers ^_^). In short, the characters are awesome, the writing is beautiful, and the plot doesn't let you go even after the book ends.

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, another book in a non-favorite series by a favorite author. Too much tell-not-show, floating backstory that comes after the relevant events..."Had you known everything I should have shown you throughout the book, this event would not have been as shocking!" Like getting the clues only after the solution is revealed. It's really hard to get involved with Karon here. I liked the Zhev'Na sequences, though.

[David Phipps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid entry in this series. It is close, but I think I liked it a little better than the first book. There were quite a few similarities to the first book. More amnesia, more betrayals, more hidden agendas, and more not knowing who to trust. Not as much focus on Seri this time since there were many point of view chapters from at least 2 other characters. Now moving on to the next book.

[Mike Salzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this about as well as the first book (which is to say, a lot), but was a little disappointed by the antagonists. They didn't seem harsh enough. Anyway, I think this book was better written than the first; I especially enjoyed the changing points of view split up by chapter. #3 is on the to-read list.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I figured this series would become mediocre as it goes on, but if the second installment is any indication, I've been proven wrong. Berg's understanding of adolescent boys is at the heart of this novel--in fact it gives the novel heart amidst a swirling chaos of tragedy and action filled adventure.

[Melanie Barbarito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re-read. I had remembered it as being grim, and it was because of a long segment in a very grim place. But it is all absolutely vital to the on-going story. I love Carol Berg's books because they are complex enough that a second read is as satisfying as the first--even more so if I'm in love with the characters.