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Guardians #3
A Distant Magic
Jean Macrae was born into a leading Scottish Guardian family. Her father and brother are masters of the extraordinary powers that all Guardians use to protect their homeland. But what magic Jean can muster is painful to use, and she seldom calls upon it. During a visit to Marseilles to attend a Guardian wedding, Jean meets a handsome stranger who kidnaps her, claiming the Macrae family owes him a blood debt. Her abductor, Captain Zander, threatens to sell her into slavery on the Barbary Coast. Will he follow through, or as her Guardian magic subtly suggests, can his mind be changed by a woman with whom he is swiftly falling in love?
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
58 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
167 books2,261 followersShe writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
December 21, 2023
Not quite as readable as the previous two. This time Jean Macrae is captured by pirates and ends up travelling through time with her Pirate Captain trying to end slavery.
Interesting but not quite as well done as the previous novels in the series.
Interesting but not quite as well done as the previous novels in the series.
August 12, 2012
A Distant Magic, making good on its last-book-of-a-series status, is probably the least "Guardian" plot of the trilogy. I've noticed that after spending several books with one sort of characters or context, authors often like to somewhat depart from it; that and tying loose ends have them look for more drastic, exotic and unprecedented solutions. This is exactly what's going on here, to my nearly greatest delight. I would have loved indeed to brandish A Distant Magic as my new all-time favourite romance novel. Alas, this is a powerful story which gets carried away and eventually trapped within its own ambitions. Definitely good, definitely interesting, but not the best literature yet.
The problem with this book is that, in its excitement at being both the trilogy's climax and oddball, it aims at too many things. It's a historical romance novel, using time travel as an element of its fantasy aspect, carrying a strong political message. If everything had worked perfectly till the end, this work would have been simply brilliant, incredible... As it is, it at least remains so for the whole first part. I was especially drawn by the slightly enigmatic, touching interludes which Ms. Putney wove into the main story of Scottish patriot Jean Macrae and Nikolai Gregorio, a mulatto pirate avenger (did I mention that I like dark men?). We're in the eighteenth century, and European powers thrive on the profits of slavery...
But the author goes way beyond a mere description of the well-known evils of slavery. Boldly yet wisely, she steps into the political with both feet. I felt like screaming in wonder and was resolved, by then, that everybody I knew should absolutely read this book.
Not that people around me nowadays need convincing about slavery, as you can guess. Neither do I think Putney wrote it in this intention. On the other hand, writing about slavery, about how hardly anybody back then thought it realistic or possible to ever abolish it, and about how it was abolished all the same, is a magnificent lesson for all the struggles for human rights and human dignity we are presently fighting. All "social" movements work according to the same logic. No democratic progress was ever conceded by elected politicians before it had become a force to reckon with within the population, within the masses.
So stop telling us that as members of the "civil society", we have no power; that only professional politicians can change anything. Stop telling us that something which has been there forever cannot cease or change, because it is part of human nature. Stop telling us that we threaten the country's economy! There are always at least two versions of the same history. How Britain and France became such great world powers during the eighteenth century is one side, and colonialism is the other side of the same coin. How much is all this wealth, and this glorious economic growth really worth? In so many ways, the neoliberal forces of today are just like the pro-slavery lobby of yesterday.
Every time you do nothing, every time you think in terms of necessity, most especially economic necessity, you let civilisation move one step backwards; you thumb your nose at all the people who fought and worked and gave their lives for freedom and equality. It is not a natural order of things we're living at the moment; it's the result of some people's "fantasies", visionary thinking and sacrifices we now benefit from. The least we can do is continue their efforts and give our children the same gift our ancestors left us with. A better world.
This may sound corny, but Mary Jo Putney's book is not corny at all. The very strength and intelligence of it consists in taking the reader well past good intentions and concepts such as charity and common empathy. This author understands exactly the significance of political―as opposed to individual―action (see quote #2) and a good portion of the book is actually dedicated to explaining it. Sadly, that's when the novel loses its literary vigour and flow. Never quite becoming a full-blown History of the Abolitionist Movement, but maybe hovering a little too close to it, it also gets caught into magical technicalities which I felt were superfluous. To put it simply, the last part seems like a jumble of information forced into a too-tight 400-page format.
The problem with this book is that, in its excitement at being both the trilogy's climax and oddball, it aims at too many things. It's a historical romance novel, using time travel as an element of its fantasy aspect, carrying a strong political message. If everything had worked perfectly till the end, this work would have been simply brilliant, incredible... As it is, it at least remains so for the whole first part. I was especially drawn by the slightly enigmatic, touching interludes which Ms. Putney wove into the main story of Scottish patriot Jean Macrae and Nikolai Gregorio, a mulatto pirate avenger (did I mention that I like dark men?). We're in the eighteenth century, and European powers thrive on the profits of slavery...
"Would you like to learn how to read, Addie? It would be interesting to see if you can do it."
Adia's rush of excitement blocked her irritation at her mistress's assumption that a slave might not be capable of learning. She wanted desperately to read and write, for education was a path to power.
But the author goes way beyond a mere description of the well-known evils of slavery. Boldly yet wisely, she steps into the political with both feet. I felt like screaming in wonder and was resolved, by then, that everybody I knew should absolutely read this book.
"That's absurd! Slavery is too huge, too integral a part of the world, for one man to bring it down. The West Indies sugar trade alone is a vital part of the world's commerce, and it uses countless slaves. [...] slavery has been with us for as long as history has been recorded, and surely before that. A thousand men couldn't make a difference. Is it worthwhile to devote your life to such an impossible goal? [...] even if you spend a long life freeing galley slaves, you will affect only a relative handful of people. You will not make any real difference."
"You saw the men freed today. Did I make a difference to them?"
[...] "You're right. Though you can't eliminate slavery as an institution, what you do has meaning."
"Don't be too sure that there is no way to eliminate slavery. It wouldn't be quick, and certainly not easy, but if there is a way, I shall find it," [...]
Not that people around me nowadays need convincing about slavery, as you can guess. Neither do I think Putney wrote it in this intention. On the other hand, writing about slavery, about how hardly anybody back then thought it realistic or possible to ever abolish it, and about how it was abolished all the same, is a magnificent lesson for all the struggles for human rights and human dignity we are presently fighting. All "social" movements work according to the same logic. No democratic progress was ever conceded by elected politicians before it had become a force to reckon with within the population, within the masses.
"You've never really thought much about slavery, have you?"
"No, I haven't," she admitted. "I've seen a few black slaves in London, but in the distance, dressed in their master's livery. Not so very different from an English footman except for the color of their skin." She began to eat again.
"You never thought about how the sugar in your tea comes at the price of women working in the sugar fields until they drop, or men scalded to death in the refining sheds."
So stop telling us that as members of the "civil society", we have no power; that only professional politicians can change anything. Stop telling us that something which has been there forever cannot cease or change, because it is part of human nature. Stop telling us that we threaten the country's economy! There are always at least two versions of the same history. How Britain and France became such great world powers during the eighteenth century is one side, and colonialism is the other side of the same coin. How much is all this wealth, and this glorious economic growth really worth? In so many ways, the neoliberal forces of today are just like the pro-slavery lobby of yesterday.
Every time you do nothing, every time you think in terms of necessity, most especially economic necessity, you let civilisation move one step backwards; you thumb your nose at all the people who fought and worked and gave their lives for freedom and equality. It is not a natural order of things we're living at the moment; it's the result of some people's "fantasies", visionary thinking and sacrifices we now benefit from. The least we can do is continue their efforts and give our children the same gift our ancestors left us with. A better world.
This may sound corny, but Mary Jo Putney's book is not corny at all. The very strength and intelligence of it consists in taking the reader well past good intentions and concepts such as charity and common empathy. This author understands exactly the significance of political―as opposed to individual―action (see quote #2) and a good portion of the book is actually dedicated to explaining it. Sadly, that's when the novel loses its literary vigour and flow. Never quite becoming a full-blown History of the Abolitionist Movement, but maybe hovering a little too close to it, it also gets caught into magical technicalities which I felt were superfluous. To put it simply, the last part seems like a jumble of information forced into a too-tight 400-page format.
February 15, 2015
It's hard to discuss the plot in any detail without spoilers, but I loved the romance between Jean and Captain Nikolai. I am so glad that I continued with this series. It's been 6 years since I first read this novel, and I STILL remember how much I loved it. The first 2 books in this Guardian series were good reads, just not thrilling to me as someone who doesn't normally like to read novels involving magic. I also worried needlessly that the time travel aspect would bug me, but it didn't.
I was transported in time and enjoyed every thrilling minute of Jean and Nikolai's journey and mission. It is also the only romance historical novel that I had read up to this point that really took a hard but even look at slavery, the abolitionist movement in England and the global impact of it at the time. I love when a historical romance novel balances the romance with an analysis of the social and economic issues of the period which ultimately reinforces what I learned in history classes. Author Mary Jo Putney does that flawlessly in this series finale. I would love to see Hallmark or another cable channel adapt this for the small screen.
I was transported in time and enjoyed every thrilling minute of Jean and Nikolai's journey and mission. It is also the only romance historical novel that I had read up to this point that really took a hard but even look at slavery, the abolitionist movement in England and the global impact of it at the time. I love when a historical romance novel balances the romance with an analysis of the social and economic issues of the period which ultimately reinforces what I learned in history classes. Author Mary Jo Putney does that flawlessly in this series finale. I would love to see Hallmark or another cable channel adapt this for the small screen.
July 21, 2008
Although I have not really gotten into this Guardian series, I have read them anyway because it's Mary Jo Putney. In this book, however, Ms. Putney has used the Guardian theme to write an in-depth and workable story about the history of abolition in England, skimming through time to hit the highlights without getting into the usual time-travel paradoxes, although she certainly mentions a few. I enjoyed this one more than the other two combined.
July 3, 2019
A ver, la argumentación general del libro es un tema realmente interesante como es los inicios de la abolición de la esclavitud, pero con tal argumentación que es a la vez también algo muy humano pues me hubiera gustado que la autora acercase al lector mucho más a la vida personal de los protagonistas tanto británicos, como americanos, como esclavos. El protagonista masculino es más bien sosillo y la protagonista femenina es un personaje que puede tener tirón pero le falta algo.
July 29, 2025
Nikolai has devoted his life to the abolishment of slavery and revenge on the man whose cruelty put him in chains all those years ago. For a brief moment, Nikolai was told he’s be a part of a family. No longer living on the streets but educated and well fed. That lie lasted a very short time before the Guardian turned his back on him. Now, Nikolai finally has a chance to get his pound of flesh from the Guardian’s daughter who foolishly wanders the market by herself.
Jean is a talented witch who is on vacation for a friend’s wedding. She never imagined she’d be kidnapped and imprisoned onboard a pirate’s ship. The handsome but brooding and dark Captain is telling her of the torment he received by her fathers’ actions but she can’t possibly believe her father would have turned his back on any child in need. She is not afraid, she stands up to the intimidating man and refused to back down. She even saves his life when they attack a salve ship thus earning her freedom from the prison she was in. When she saves the ship again during a bad storm, she is no longer a prisoner but a teacher of all things to Nikolai who has such promise with his magic but no control.
Together, they find themselves drawn tight by the bonds which link them as true mates and by their common goal of ending slavery although powerful magic is needed and there’s a chance they lack the ability.
What a turn this book took. At first? I was all in. Handsome anti-hero with trauma and a temper? Great. Beautiful and levelheaded heroine who sees deeper into the troubled captain’s soul? Perfect. The plotline of abolishing slavery and using time travel and magic spells to trap the ‘Demon of Slavery’? Now you’ve lost me. How much better this book would have been if Jean and Nikolai devoted themselves to the freeing of slaves in the Caribbean? When they could spend time together and show to me the reader that they are in love rather then in lust. That Nikolai wouldn’t have consistent and troubling thoughts of just taking Jean even as she denies him.
This book had such promise but it was ruined by poor character development and a plotline muddled by unnecessary things like time travel and demons.
Jean is a talented witch who is on vacation for a friend’s wedding. She never imagined she’d be kidnapped and imprisoned onboard a pirate’s ship. The handsome but brooding and dark Captain is telling her of the torment he received by her fathers’ actions but she can’t possibly believe her father would have turned his back on any child in need. She is not afraid, she stands up to the intimidating man and refused to back down. She even saves his life when they attack a salve ship thus earning her freedom from the prison she was in. When she saves the ship again during a bad storm, she is no longer a prisoner but a teacher of all things to Nikolai who has such promise with his magic but no control.
Together, they find themselves drawn tight by the bonds which link them as true mates and by their common goal of ending slavery although powerful magic is needed and there’s a chance they lack the ability.
What a turn this book took. At first? I was all in. Handsome anti-hero with trauma and a temper? Great. Beautiful and levelheaded heroine who sees deeper into the troubled captain’s soul? Perfect. The plotline of abolishing slavery and using time travel and magic spells to trap the ‘Demon of Slavery’? Now you’ve lost me. How much better this book would have been if Jean and Nikolai devoted themselves to the freeing of slaves in the Caribbean? When they could spend time together and show to me the reader that they are in love rather then in lust. That Nikolai wouldn’t have consistent and troubling thoughts of just taking Jean even as she denies him.
This book had such promise but it was ruined by poor character development and a plotline muddled by unnecessary things like time travel and demons.
July 6, 2011
What an interesting and ambitious novel.
Mixing historical romance with magical fantasy, time travel with the story of the abolition of the slave trade, it's a complex tale that ignores genre boundaries and brings together the stories of two couples, African and European who use magic to support the growth of the abolition movement. The historical elements are handled well and most readers will learn something about the history of slavery - thankfully the subject is handled seriously and with respect. The magic is also well-depicted with the contrasts between European and African systems. And the story is a page-turner.
It's not entirely successful - the chopping around of the narrative between the different participants gets annoying at times. In true romance series fashion, many of the secondary characters are HEA couples from previous novels - at best this leads to bland, skippable passages - at worst so much perfection can make a person puke. And at times the language is awkward - I don't care for business talk in the mouths of fantasy characters so, for instance, I wince when a bunch of mages "schedule a meeting" and then there are cliches - could it be arranged for any author typing the term "Scottish Witch" to receive a little electric shock?
These are minor points. It was an intelligent gripping read and it has its heart in the right place.
Mixing historical romance with magical fantasy, time travel with the story of the abolition of the slave trade, it's a complex tale that ignores genre boundaries and brings together the stories of two couples, African and European who use magic to support the growth of the abolition movement. The historical elements are handled well and most readers will learn something about the history of slavery - thankfully the subject is handled seriously and with respect. The magic is also well-depicted with the contrasts between European and African systems. And the story is a page-turner.
It's not entirely successful - the chopping around of the narrative between the different participants gets annoying at times. In true romance series fashion, many of the secondary characters are HEA couples from previous novels - at best this leads to bland, skippable passages - at worst so much perfection can make a person puke. And at times the language is awkward - I don't care for business talk in the mouths of fantasy characters so, for instance, I wince when a bunch of mages "schedule a meeting" and then there are cliches - could it be arranged for any author typing the term "Scottish Witch" to receive a little electric shock?
These are minor points. It was an intelligent gripping read and it has its heart in the right place.
January 26, 2015
This is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. It touches several elements of adventure, intrigue, historical events, the fight to abolish slavery, the high seas, mystical powers and yes romance. An amazing story, very well written, extremely fascinating. I could not put it down. A must read.
September 22, 2022
This is not a 'romance' novel. Instead, this is a historical fiction book about time travel by two magicians who go to Britain to influence the anti-slavery movement. It weaves in actual historical events. It is good if that is what you want. I can't say I actually 'read' it since I skimmed 1/3rd of it.
June 8, 2008
I really enjoyed the character of Nikolai Gregorio. His raw power mixed with Jean Macrae's was a magical couple. The only problem being that it took them so long into the book to get together. The chemistry is awesome.
I thought the story was great...
I thought the story was great...
January 22, 2014
cool characters. loved the time traveling to correct social injustice.
July 8, 2016
O carte carte combina trecutul cu prezentul si viitorul, cu vrajitori si vrajitoare din Europa si Africa, fiecare cu puterile lui, care ajuta la desfiintarea sclaviei
O recomand
O recomand
January 27, 2019
Ah sido, unos de los pocos libros de "literatura rosa" que he leído, y tiene una historia tan inquietante, que Mary Jo Putney escribe un libro con tintes históricos reales con magia y continuidades...
Ha sido una sorpresa esperada porque Jo Putney nunca falla.
Se saca 4 estrellas porque en algún momento era mah y le hizo falta mas sexo y pasión entre Jean y Gregorio.
Ha sido una sorpresa esperada porque Jo Putney nunca falla.
Se saca 4 estrellas porque en algún momento era mah y le hizo falta mas sexo y pasión entre Jean y Gregorio.
March 21, 2023
2 stelline e mezzo - Dopo due volumi apprezzati, non mi aspettavo un terzo capitolo così deludente.
Ma, purtroppo e senza girarci intorno, la terza coppia di maghi non si è rivelata per nulla all'altezza del resto del gruppo.
Se infatti in precedenza il contesto storico era stato importante, ma non opprimente, qui diviene protagonista assoluto.
La coppia di Nikolai e Jean risulta essere una sorta di alibi per approfondire il tema della lotta alla schiavitù condotta in Inghilterra; infatti, dopo essersi incontrati (in circostanze non proprio romantiche: lui la sequestra per pura vendetta), i due scoprono di poter viaggiare nel tempo grazie alle loro doti magiche, per cui iniziano a saltellare avanti e indietro per aiutare i vari protagonisti del movimento abolizionista (peraltro, tutti personaggi storici veramente esistiti).
Per mio gusto personale, l'ho trovato di una noia spettacolare.
Non c'è granché d'amore (e io volevo leggere un romance) ed è tutto soffocato da parti nozionistiche sostanziose; se, poi, uno si chiede perché mettere al centro di una storia dedicata alle sofferenze delle genti di colore una coppia "bianca", va precisato che la Putney inserisce una sottotrama (minore) con le vicende della giovanissima Aidia, strappata dal suo villaggio in Africa e venduta come schiava, prima nelle piantagioni delle Indie Occidentali e poi in America.
Per carità, il tema è più che interessante, ma porlo al centro di un romanzo "di svago" (e pure fantasy!) non mi è parsa una scelta azzeccata.
Ma, purtroppo e senza girarci intorno, la terza coppia di maghi non si è rivelata per nulla all'altezza del resto del gruppo.
Se infatti in precedenza il contesto storico era stato importante, ma non opprimente, qui diviene protagonista assoluto.
La coppia di Nikolai e Jean risulta essere una sorta di alibi per approfondire il tema della lotta alla schiavitù condotta in Inghilterra; infatti, dopo essersi incontrati (in circostanze non proprio romantiche: lui la sequestra per pura vendetta), i due scoprono di poter viaggiare nel tempo grazie alle loro doti magiche, per cui iniziano a saltellare avanti e indietro per aiutare i vari protagonisti del movimento abolizionista (peraltro, tutti personaggi storici veramente esistiti).
Per mio gusto personale, l'ho trovato di una noia spettacolare.
Non c'è granché d'amore (e io volevo leggere un romance) ed è tutto soffocato da parti nozionistiche sostanziose; se, poi, uno si chiede perché mettere al centro di una storia dedicata alle sofferenze delle genti di colore una coppia "bianca", va precisato che la Putney inserisce una sottotrama (minore) con le vicende della giovanissima Aidia, strappata dal suo villaggio in Africa e venduta come schiava, prima nelle piantagioni delle Indie Occidentali e poi in America.
Per carità, il tema è più che interessante, ma porlo al centro di un romanzo "di svago" (e pure fantasy!) non mi è parsa una scelta azzeccata.
March 13, 2022
Wonderful audiobook narration of an exciting, paranormal, historical romance
The Guardians are humans blessed with powerful, elemental magic, based on the four aspects of the natural world: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Jean Macrae belongs to one of the most dominant Guardian clans, but her own magical abilities have always been considered minor, at best. Until she is kidnapped by Captain Nikolai Gregorio and held against her will on his pirate ship by the force of his potent magic. Nikolai is seeking revenge against the entire Macrae clan, because he blames Jean’s father for his being enslaved as a child. Not having grown up in Guardian society, Nikolai’s magical gifts are untrained, and he doesn’t know the limits of his own abilities. Jean is thrilled—and also rather frightened—when she discovers that his powers amplify and expose latent magic within herself that she never knew she had.
This novel is the third book in the paranormal, historical-romance, Guardians series. It consists of the following three books:
Book 1: A Kiss of Fate: Duncan and Gwyneth
Book 2: Stolen Magic: Simon and Meg
Book 3: A Distant Magic: Nikolai and Jean
The novels are interlinked, but each can be read as a stand-alone novel, with no cliffhangers. Each novel has a different set of romantic protagonists within a shared magical universe. The heroine, Jean, of this novel is the sister of Duncan, the hero of Book 1.
Fans of paranormal romance, with loads of exciting action-adventure, will greatly enjoy this terrific, “enemies to lovers” romance. Jean and Nikolai are dynamic protagonists with a passionate connection, over and above their enthrallingly symbiotic magical powers. The inclusion of time travel in this story, as a tool for Nikolai and Jean to support decades of activism in the 19th Century aimed at overcoming the despicable, British slave trade, is a fascinating, central core of this exciting story.
I have previously read this book in mass market paperback format when it was first released, and very recently I have had the opportunity to revisit it as an audiobook. The narrator, Rosalyn Landor, is a talented British actor who does a terrific job acting out all of the different parts, providing distinct voices for male and female characters of all ages. She is also exceptional with different regional accents. All in all, this audiobook is a delightful way to experience this wonderful novel.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Paranormal Action/Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Fantasy World-Building: 5 stars
Historical World-Building: 5 stars
Audiobook Narration: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
The Guardians are humans blessed with powerful, elemental magic, based on the four aspects of the natural world: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Jean Macrae belongs to one of the most dominant Guardian clans, but her own magical abilities have always been considered minor, at best. Until she is kidnapped by Captain Nikolai Gregorio and held against her will on his pirate ship by the force of his potent magic. Nikolai is seeking revenge against the entire Macrae clan, because he blames Jean’s father for his being enslaved as a child. Not having grown up in Guardian society, Nikolai’s magical gifts are untrained, and he doesn’t know the limits of his own abilities. Jean is thrilled—and also rather frightened—when she discovers that his powers amplify and expose latent magic within herself that she never knew she had.
This novel is the third book in the paranormal, historical-romance, Guardians series. It consists of the following three books:
Book 1: A Kiss of Fate: Duncan and Gwyneth
Book 2: Stolen Magic: Simon and Meg
Book 3: A Distant Magic: Nikolai and Jean
The novels are interlinked, but each can be read as a stand-alone novel, with no cliffhangers. Each novel has a different set of romantic protagonists within a shared magical universe. The heroine, Jean, of this novel is the sister of Duncan, the hero of Book 1.
Fans of paranormal romance, with loads of exciting action-adventure, will greatly enjoy this terrific, “enemies to lovers” romance. Jean and Nikolai are dynamic protagonists with a passionate connection, over and above their enthrallingly symbiotic magical powers. The inclusion of time travel in this story, as a tool for Nikolai and Jean to support decades of activism in the 19th Century aimed at overcoming the despicable, British slave trade, is a fascinating, central core of this exciting story.
I have previously read this book in mass market paperback format when it was first released, and very recently I have had the opportunity to revisit it as an audiobook. The narrator, Rosalyn Landor, is a talented British actor who does a terrific job acting out all of the different parts, providing distinct voices for male and female characters of all ages. She is also exceptional with different regional accents. All in all, this audiobook is a delightful way to experience this wonderful novel.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Paranormal Action/Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Fantasy World-Building: 5 stars
Historical World-Building: 5 stars
Audiobook Narration: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
October 27, 2007
So far i can tell that this is a fiction novel. It is about love and hate and a little somin somin if you know what i mean. lol there is some gross things and some things i really dont understand. I think Mary Jo Putney is the best author for adult/teens. Try reading one of her novels. After I am done with this book, I am moving on to her other book A Kiss of Fate. All of her books look so good! The novel of the gardians is a very interesting one. Hopefully you check one of these books out. If you do tell me what you thought of it and your favorite part.
October 31, 2014
okay so each book has been so different from the other, this one didnt suprise me.... Book 1 Storm Lords, Book 2 Unicorns and now Book 3 Pirates, African Magic and Time Traveling to abolish slavery...
add in vengence, add in a woman seeing meaning for her life, add in heat and chemistry and a yearning to burn with the other person...
a great ending to this trilogy
add in vengence, add in a woman seeing meaning for her life, add in heat and chemistry and a yearning to burn with the other person...
a great ending to this trilogy
July 31, 2023
an unusual travel
This book is the last in the Guardian Trilogy. It is filled with the Guardians and African magic with a most unusual twist, time travel. Slavery and abolition are the crux of the story, so it is much deeper than the previous 2 books. I think you will enjoy this conclusion to a great series.
This book is the last in the Guardian Trilogy. It is filled with the Guardians and African magic with a most unusual twist, time travel. Slavery and abolition are the crux of the story, so it is much deeper than the previous 2 books. I think you will enjoy this conclusion to a great series.
March 6, 2023
This book was difficult to pigeon hole, both in genres as well as my rating. It was historical fiction, romance, fantasy (?) and included time travel...so many elements. I really enjoyed the characters and the time travel aspect. But I am a sucker for pirates so I was instantly hooked.
June 1, 2018
I liked reading about something I didn't knew much about - abolitionism.
March 26, 2021
Oh my, have you ever grieved the ending of a series. Well, I am for these books. This one took a surprising trajectory, but fascinating nonetheless.
November 4, 2023
Wonderful conclusion to amazing trilogy!
June 21, 2018
Fue una lectura muy amena, me tuvo entretenida el tiempo que duro.
Al principio parecía ser la típica historia de romance, pero la historia dio un giro. Deja en segundo plano el desarrollo del romance y vuelve otro tema de mayor importancia como el central.
Creo que es un libro bueno para alguien que busca leer algo ligero pero que tenga un buen mensaje y aprendizaje. Es una combinación de elementos mágicos (europeos y africanos), hechos reales y sentimientos de entregarse a uno mismo para una causa mayor.
Mi personaje favorito fue sin duda Adia. Siento que fue la que mejor desarrollo tuvo y de la que mejor llegamos a conocer. Los personajes de Nikolai y Jean siento que les hizo falta "algo más" y no quedarán un poco opacados por los hechos que pasan.
Es el primer libro que leo de esta autora y me quede con una buena primera impresión. Sin duda les daré otra oportunidad a los libros de esta trilogía.
Al principio parecía ser la típica historia de romance, pero la historia dio un giro. Deja en segundo plano el desarrollo del romance y vuelve otro tema de mayor importancia como el central.
Creo que es un libro bueno para alguien que busca leer algo ligero pero que tenga un buen mensaje y aprendizaje. Es una combinación de elementos mágicos (europeos y africanos), hechos reales y sentimientos de entregarse a uno mismo para una causa mayor.
Mi personaje favorito fue sin duda Adia. Siento que fue la que mejor desarrollo tuvo y de la que mejor llegamos a conocer. Los personajes de Nikolai y Jean siento que les hizo falta "algo más" y no quedarán un poco opacados por los hechos que pasan.
Es el primer libro que leo de esta autora y me quede con una buena primera impresión. Sin duda les daré otra oportunidad a los libros de esta trilogía.
January 19, 2020
As one stars are only for books I can't force myself to finish this book gets 2 stars.
Unfortunate though I felt the character of Jean Macrae deserved a wonderful passion filled romance it is not what she got.
The romance was lackluster and unbelievable. I'm sorry but women like Jean do not fall for men that kidnap them and threaten her family. Men that are hell bent on revenge don't turn themselves around this easily.
The biggest fault of this book is the preachy nature of over half the narrative. It is much more about the abolitionist movement than the romance between Nikolai and Jean.
I did love the line something like " Just because my mother liked the name Nikolai doesn't mean I'm Russian." My son Nikolai found it funny also as it is his mantra too.
Unfortunate though I felt the character of Jean Macrae deserved a wonderful passion filled romance it is not what she got.
The romance was lackluster and unbelievable. I'm sorry but women like Jean do not fall for men that kidnap them and threaten her family. Men that are hell bent on revenge don't turn themselves around this easily.
The biggest fault of this book is the preachy nature of over half the narrative. It is much more about the abolitionist movement than the romance between Nikolai and Jean.
I did love the line something like " Just because my mother liked the name Nikolai doesn't mean I'm Russian." My son Nikolai found it funny also as it is his mantra too.
July 11, 2020
Orphan Nikolai grows up with a vendetta against Lord MacRae for not rescuing him from pirates. After years of abuse as a slave Nikolai rebelled and has taken up the life of a gentleman and privateer. When Fate puts Lady Jean MacRae in his path, Nikolai kidnaps her but soon realizes her innocence and maybe a misunderstanding of what happened so many years ago.
The Ancestors send a woman Mage to help both Nikolai and Jean gain full use of their powers and send them on a time jumping quest to help end slavery in England.
Decent writing job but not one of Putney’s most notable. I have many of her pre Kindle paperbacks.
Donnelly does a decent job of narration.
The Ancestors send a woman Mage to help both Nikolai and Jean gain full use of their powers and send them on a time jumping quest to help end slavery in England.
Decent writing job but not one of Putney’s most notable. I have many of her pre Kindle paperbacks.
Donnelly does a decent job of narration.
October 12, 2024
This is an odd series in more than one way. For one thing, the first book was so boring that I DNF, the second book was a drag but I finished, and this one I couldn't put down once I got into it. This series was ironically also more grounded in real history compared to Putney's usual fare even though it has the unrealistic element of actual magic. This book in particular, felt almost like historical fiction rather than paranormal/period romance. I enjoyed this sweeping overview of the progression of the abolition movement.
March 26, 2018
My least favorite of this trilogy - mostly because I am not a big seafaring romance fan (and the hero is a sea captain with a grudge against the heroine's father). But for those that like the genre and enjoy a bit of magic sprinkled throughout, this would be a winner!
Overall though I have loved this trilogy.
See full book 1 review
Overall though I have loved this trilogy.
See full book 1 review
February 10, 2023
Not really a romance at all.
There is very little romance in this story. It's more about the slave trade than anything else. I forced myself to finish the book so I could give an accurate review. There is a man and a woman in the story, a little sensual tension, but not much else but using magic to help end the slave trade. I was very disappointed in this story since the first two books in this trilogy were amazing.
There is very little romance in this story. It's more about the slave trade than anything else. I forced myself to finish the book so I could give an accurate review. There is a man and a woman in the story, a little sensual tension, but not much else but using magic to help end the slave trade. I was very disappointed in this story since the first two books in this trilogy were amazing.
October 23, 2023
Not one of Ms. Putney's best. I get that her mission was to have the reader understand more about the history of the 18th and 19th century slavery, but it is a BIG topic, and the romance in the story seemed incidental. This was not a fun read, nor was it particularly informative. More could have been done with the African and Gaurdian mages and the skills that they had.
The book seemed to be rushed or tried in certain places. I can see where she struggled with the story.
The book seemed to be rushed or tried in certain places. I can see where she struggled with the story.
August 19, 2023
Niente, nonostante Charlie Gale i viaggi nel tempo non fanno proprio per me.
Apprezzo il percorso fatto dall'autrice per arrivare a trattare questo tema, che lega molto il libro con il precedente.
La storia è bella e articolata, purtroppo ho fatto tantissima fatica ad ingranare e ci sono riuscita solo dopo aver sbirciato il finale.
Buono, ma alla fine questa serie non mi ha entusiasmato.
Apprezzo il percorso fatto dall'autrice per arrivare a trattare questo tema, che lega molto il libro con il precedente.
La storia è bella e articolata, purtroppo ho fatto tantissima fatica ad ingranare e ci sono riuscita solo dopo aver sbirciato il finale.
Buono, ma alla fine questa serie non mi ha entusiasmato.
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