Guardian

by Rob Radcliffe

In the dead of night Bertie walks the corridors of Macmillan’s Hope and Sanctuary Hospital befriending the dying, letting them know they are not alone, that they have not been forgotten.Is he an angel, there to guide them on to their eternity, or is he just a kindly hospital porter giving those so close to the end a little hope?Bertie is both of these things and he is neither.He is the guardian of the afterlife, guiding those recently passed back to a time in their life where they were the happiest.Bertie isn’t the only one with abilities he cannot explain, and he isn’t the only one for whom the sands of time do not flow. Who is the man who finds him in his dreams, and why does he reach out to him?

Genres: Fantasy

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2021

About the author

Rob Radcliffe was born and raised in Lancashire, England. He is a fiction author and novelist, and newly formed bloggist (it’s catchier than blogger).

He spends the majority of his days with his head in the clouds, sometimes coming back down to earth just long enough to turn those daydreams into stories by actually writing them down.

​Rob writes across several genres, ‘lad’ lit (which would be chick-lit’s naughty younger brother), thrillers, and sci-fi.

​Despite his appearance in his head shot, Rob does come in colour…and usually with both ears.

​Rob’s books are a mixture of coming of age testosterone, action, humour and general silliness. A great place to start would be at the beginning of each book, he feels they work better that way.

Reviews

[M.H. Thaung]

This is an interesting short book, more an exploration of a supernatural/metaphysical concepts than a standard story. This impression is enhanced by the narration being in first person, present tense, giving it the feel of a journal or diary.

The prose is tidy, other than some consistent punctuation oddities that I found rather distracting. We follow Bertie as he (and through him, the reader) learns about his abilities and possible purpose. He has an everyday life and concerns, interspersed with... I guess you might call them metaphysical journeys to some other time and place. (I'm not good with this terminology, and I nearly always find time travel aspects confusing).

Because of the time travel/communication from the future aspect, Bertie's life and actions seem pre-ordained. So we don't see him dealing with difficult decisions or challenges to his equilibrium. The book ends with a clear problem that presumably feeds into the next book, and I expect more of the background will be revealed there.

[Cheryl Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating Read!

I truly enjoyed this book!
Time travel is a favorite of mine and Mr. Radcliffe tells a story very well. This one will stay with you long after you finish reading it, which all great stories should do.
And then finding out that the next book in the series tells the story of characters from this book...well. I know now that I HAVE to read Divine as well!
Guardian was given to me free by the author and I am happy to be able to leave this honest review. You will definitely enjoy this book.

[Christine Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The guardian is an immortal being who aids the newly dead in the movement from the place of death to where they will spend eternity. It’s the story of Bertie, an enigma who works as a hospital porter but spends most of his time with terminally ill patients.

I wasn’t sure about this book when I started it. But the deeper I went, the more amazed I was. Were we looking at time travel? Or maybe alternate realities? The deeper you go into the story, the more you think you understand, but keep reading because all will be made clear. The most disappointing thing was when it ended.

[Georgie Lisoway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this

Very enjoyable read . The only reason I have it a 4 is because it was a little short. The building of the characters and the movement of the story were very well done. I will be reading the next one in the series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original, interesting and entertaining.

I am so excited to start book two. I’m intrigued by the plot and I want to know more about the main character. I definitely enjoyed first book!

[Brian Busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book . A storyline with interesting takes on history but also a story of compassion , how do I write a review without giving spoilers !!! Well trust me on this one. The book deserves my 5* rating for its great characters , its own take on history and last but no least the authors ability to make you want to keep reading , I can't wait to read book 1.
As you my guess I completely recommended reading this book.

[Lyn Moffett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with a tear in my eye in the first few chapters. It’s a nice concept to think there is someone there to guide you on your last journey to somewhere that is or was a very precious memory for you throughout your life. I didn’t realise it was a prequel story though so I’m going to look for the next part to find out how Bertie Sophie and Eric fare in later years. If you like a bit of time travel and compassion. This is the book for you. Another hit for Rob Radcliffe. I enjoy his writings immensely. Go treat yourself to it. You pay more for a coffee lol.

[Deana St. John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book about having someone to help you with where and what time of your life you like to "revisit" when you die. It got me thinking about what would I choose... This is definitely a prequel, because it ends in a place that keeps you wanting more. (isn't that the purpose of a prequel???) So if you like to be kept hanging at the end and are okay with shedding a few tears, I would recommend this book. I'm off to get the next installment!

[Anja Peerdeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this novel was an utterly delightful experience.

I started reading it on a sunny day, sitting in the backyard, and by the time I finished the first chapter (Where Bertie describes himself) I was fully aware I was in for a treat.

And a treat it was. Lots of interesting characters, each of them unique in their own way. I'm very fond of Bertie !

I'm also really glad that 'The Guardian' was a prequel of ' The Devine Chronicles'. I'm gonna start book 1 ('The Devine') right now.

[Brian Busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book . A storyline with interesting takes on history but also a story of compassion , how do I write a review without giving spoilers !!! Well trust me on this one. The book deserves my 5* rating for its great characters , its own take on history and last but no least the authors ability to make you want to keep reading , I can't wait to read book 1.
As you my guess I completely recommended reading this book.

[AR bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a very imaginative book, and tales going forward!

I found Rob Radcliffe and his works as a friend-of-a-friend authors group. Through a busy reading schedule I paused to read Guardian, and glad I did so.

Now that I’ve gotten “hooked”, I’ll just have to read on through the whole Divine Chronicles series.

[Margarita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal precept. Really liked this book. The leading of the dead to the other side is a beautiful concept. I must read the next book in this series. I have to find out whether Sophie wakes up. Does Bertie find the answers to his questions?

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quite good in the beginning, but then it seemed similar, but not as good, as another book with the same sort of story.