What do you think?
Rate this book
The Maya Bloodgates #1
The Bloodgate Guardian
Worlds within worlds await through the Maya Bloodgate...
Dr. Jaid Merritt doesn't do digs. The last time she ventured into the jungle, someone died. Now she's content to decipher Maya glyphs from pictures sent to her by her famous archaeologist father. But when he goes missing while trying to perform a ritual based on her translations of an ancient codex, Jaid must put aside her fears and travel to Guatemala to find him.
After misusing the Bloodgates to bring his twin brother back from the afterlife, the Maya priest known as Ruin was cursed by the gods to stand as the guardian for all time. He was unable to stop Dr. Charles Merritt from opening the gates, and now demons roam this world. The last thing he wants to do is hurt the beautiful woman who is somehow infused with his magic, but if she uses the codex to retrieve her father, Ruin must do his duty. And this time, he won't fail. Even if it kills him. Again.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2010
5 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Joely Sue Burkhart
118 books2,012 followersI write books. Sometimes I even finish them!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 10, 2010
There are certain things I can just expect from Joely's books as a reader. Strong Characters, Strong Relationships, Epic Romances, and Sacrifice. (Sometimes with blood, sometimes with out. *g* )
The Bloodgate Guardian is no exception. And yeah, blood included.
I have a deep fascination with culture and mythology, and how mythology plays IN to culture. And as you may have guessed from the blog’s tagline, I’m drawn to a sense of the “forbidden”, the “taboo”. How much more Taboo can you get than human sacrifice?
I wasn’t disappointed, though I’d long ago suspected I never would be with a Joely Sue Burkhart read.
Jaid really is the Un-Indiana Jones, as her students not so affectionately call her. She’s just a brilliant professor thrown into extraordinary circumstances and asked simply to survive them. What I liked about her character was that she never came across as being too mousy or too kick-ass. She was just Jaid. She did amazing things, mostly because of her brilliant mind, but she never came across as an amazon, or an athlete. Which wouldn’t have made sense since she’s self-professed geek who spent most of her time grading one-too-many papers and translating Glyphs for her obsessive and not quite as brilliant but still gifted Father.
She did extraordinary things while remaining ordinary. And by Ordinary I mean that she maintained the essence of her character.
And Ruin? Yum. I go especially swoon-ie for ethnic heroes. I still don’t get what the big deal over his name was, you know, because I’m weird, but I’m glad he got to keep it. It fit the character. I don’t like giving spoilers, but Ruin’s arc is extremely tragic and in overcoming that tragedy, extremely rewarding. I bawled my freakin eyes out over the heartache and suffering he had to go through for his HEA. He literally fought tooth and nail (and blood) for it. (Remember how I said I love sadistic authors? Joely makes those suckers EARN their endings. This usually means I have to keep kleenex close by. You’ve been thoroughly warned.)
I also bawled for Wrak and Butterfly Star. Two characters you’ll have to read TBG to meet and decide for yourselves how you feel about them.
If you’re easily scared, I would not recommend this book. Because dude? The Place of Fright, the Maya Underworld, is not just in name only. Joely pulled out all the stops. It’s pretty frickin’ creepy and badass all at the same time. I loved that she took it to such extremes, because dark fantasy is my genre-crack and I feel that TBG has more than a little touch of DF in it.
I also wouldn’t recommend if you’re kind of narrow minded, but I kind of suspect narrow minded people don’t flock to my blog. Joely is famous for INTENSE complex emotional relationships. That’s all I’m going to say because again, Spoilers aren’t allowed on my blog.
Usually I end up falling for a side character (or six where Joely books’ are concerned). In the first incarnation of this story, that was Quinn. Since Quinn’s getting his own book though? I guess I’d say Callie. And that’s weird because she was only on screen for like a page or two. But I felt for her, especially her situation.
Wrack and Butterfly Star hold a special place in my side-character-loving-heart too.
I also usually love the Antagonists in a “ooo, he/she/it’s so evvvviiilllll” sort of way.This time though, I was completely creeped out. Still semi-gleeful, cause my inner child is a sadist, but mostly creeped out. In a good way. Mayan Demons are not to be messed with, and that’s me being extremely PC.
Joely’s plots are usually complex enough that there are more than just one set of antagonists to choose from. As well as a nice dollop of Gray shades among minor and main characters. What can I say? I’m only happy when it’s complicated.
The experience was like watching a movie. Joely’s style is very visual and engaging and its so easy to lose your whole afternoon wrapped up in her books. Only, this book wasn’t just sound and fury for the sake of action and adventure. There’s substance underneath all the blood, and demons, and mushy stuff. And its what keeps this reader coming back.
The Bloodgate Guardian is no exception. And yeah, blood included.
I have a deep fascination with culture and mythology, and how mythology plays IN to culture. And as you may have guessed from the blog’s tagline, I’m drawn to a sense of the “forbidden”, the “taboo”. How much more Taboo can you get than human sacrifice?
I wasn’t disappointed, though I’d long ago suspected I never would be with a Joely Sue Burkhart read.
Jaid really is the Un-Indiana Jones, as her students not so affectionately call her. She’s just a brilliant professor thrown into extraordinary circumstances and asked simply to survive them. What I liked about her character was that she never came across as being too mousy or too kick-ass. She was just Jaid. She did amazing things, mostly because of her brilliant mind, but she never came across as an amazon, or an athlete. Which wouldn’t have made sense since she’s self-professed geek who spent most of her time grading one-too-many papers and translating Glyphs for her obsessive and not quite as brilliant but still gifted Father.
She did extraordinary things while remaining ordinary. And by Ordinary I mean that she maintained the essence of her character.
And Ruin? Yum. I go especially swoon-ie for ethnic heroes. I still don’t get what the big deal over his name was, you know, because I’m weird, but I’m glad he got to keep it. It fit the character. I don’t like giving spoilers, but Ruin’s arc is extremely tragic and in overcoming that tragedy, extremely rewarding. I bawled my freakin eyes out over the heartache and suffering he had to go through for his HEA. He literally fought tooth and nail (and blood) for it. (Remember how I said I love sadistic authors? Joely makes those suckers EARN their endings. This usually means I have to keep kleenex close by. You’ve been thoroughly warned.)
I also bawled for Wrak and Butterfly Star. Two characters you’ll have to read TBG to meet and decide for yourselves how you feel about them.
If you’re easily scared, I would not recommend this book. Because dude? The Place of Fright, the Maya Underworld, is not just in name only. Joely pulled out all the stops. It’s pretty frickin’ creepy and badass all at the same time. I loved that she took it to such extremes, because dark fantasy is my genre-crack and I feel that TBG has more than a little touch of DF in it.
I also wouldn’t recommend if you’re kind of narrow minded, but I kind of suspect narrow minded people don’t flock to my blog. Joely is famous for INTENSE complex emotional relationships. That’s all I’m going to say because again, Spoilers aren’t allowed on my blog.
Usually I end up falling for a side character (or six where Joely books’ are concerned). In the first incarnation of this story, that was Quinn. Since Quinn’s getting his own book though? I guess I’d say Callie. And that’s weird because she was only on screen for like a page or two. But I felt for her, especially her situation.
Wrack and Butterfly Star hold a special place in my side-character-loving-heart too.
I also usually love the Antagonists in a “ooo, he/she/it’s so evvvviiilllll” sort of way.This time though, I was completely creeped out. Still semi-gleeful, cause my inner child is a sadist, but mostly creeped out. In a good way. Mayan Demons are not to be messed with, and that’s me being extremely PC.
Joely’s plots are usually complex enough that there are more than just one set of antagonists to choose from. As well as a nice dollop of Gray shades among minor and main characters. What can I say? I’m only happy when it’s complicated.
The experience was like watching a movie. Joely’s style is very visual and engaging and its so easy to lose your whole afternoon wrapped up in her books. Only, this book wasn’t just sound and fury for the sake of action and adventure. There’s substance underneath all the blood, and demons, and mushy stuff. And its what keeps this reader coming back.
August 4, 2010
I had a tough time deciding how I would rate The Bloodgate Guardian. It was between a 2 and 3 for me. The book was well written, the plot inventive and the characters well developed but it just didn't inspire any passion from me.
I didn't finish and hurry to see when (or if) the next book in the series would be coming out. Mostly because the relationship between the hero and heroine, Jaid and Ruin (great name I must say) just never really took off for me.
I do think I would read more by this author and if she continues with this series I hope she considers adding a pronunciation guide and index about the Mayan references. It would be helpful.
I didn't finish and hurry to see when (or if) the next book in the series would be coming out. Mostly because the relationship between the hero and heroine, Jaid and Ruin (great name I must say) just never really took off for me.
I do think I would read more by this author and if she continues with this series I hope she considers adding a pronunciation guide and index about the Mayan references. It would be helpful.
June 26, 2010
Deep in the caves of Guatemala, a secret ancient ritual takes place opening up a gateway to the Mayan underworld. Months later, Dr. Jaid Merritt receives the video feed only to find out her father was the man leading the ritual. Despite her fear of going on dig sites, Jaid must decide whether to face her fears and find her father at the Mayan temple, or risk losing him forever.
Bloodgate Guardian was awesome! I really enjoyed this book filled with action, adventure, a little bit of romance and a lot of suspense. One of the many strengths of this book was the characters and story pacing. I loved that Jaid is not a generic kick butt heroine who rejects all feeling except her libido to do whatever needs to be done. She has a weakness (she injured her knee as a child during a dig with her parents), and although she shows signs of strength, she isn't afraid to break down with vulnerability when the weight of the world falls on her shoulders. She's a realistic heroine who shoes genuine fear and hesitance before going into a situation but when the chips are down, the girl's got moxie and will do what needs to be done. In other words, she's a great 3 dimensional character.
I also loved the hero, Ruin (especially his and his brother's name), and going into the book I tried to stay away from any spoilers or too much blurb info so it was a surprise to see how he ties into the story and not only serves as a gatekeeper in the temple but also a bridge for Jaid and her father as it ties into the story. Ruin is an appealing hero, but make no bones about it, he is also a ruthless killer with an edge. I love dangerous heroes and Ruin definitely qualifies as he teeters between killing Jaid or saving her at times. He makes no excuses for who and what he is and still there are qualities that make him redeemable so that the reader cheers him on.
Another thing I really liked was the tension that was built over the course of the story. Sometimes romances feel manipulated in that character's bodies react to one another within seconds of meeting each other instead of allowing the tension and need to grow naturally over time. In Bloodgate Guardian the characters reacted to more pressing matters and only later in the story did they start finding each other attractive. Even then, it slowly took its time while they focused on what was important which added to the "will they get together or won't they" that also added to the suspense in the story and made the actual consummation all the more rewarding after what they've been through. I love it when this course of action is taken because it keeps me guessing and flipping pages to find out how things unfold and how (or if) they will be together after the last page.
Another thing I really liked about the story is the dialogue. The story started out with a bang of an opening line: "He never hated his magic until it compelled him to kill" and just kept floating from there. Another fave of mine is "If men were as easy to decipher as Maya glyphs, then perhaps Jaid would have been able to translate "beware" carved in her boyfriend's handsome forehead and saved herself the trouble." Jaid often referred to herself as the Un-Indiana Jones which I thought was cute and during her revelation to how she hurt her knee and carries guilt due to her mother's death, there's a lot that's revealed through clever dialogue.
For instance:
"Do you know what they call me in the archeology circles? The Un-Indiana Jones."
Head tilted, he studied her, a small smile flickering on his face. "I have no idea what that means, but it amuses you."
"Yeah," she admitted, nodding. "But it's embarrassing too. Indiana Jones is a movie archeologist, an action-adventure hero. I've built up ruins and archeology in my mind, believing I had to be a great risk0taker, an action-adventure heroine of my own."
"Deep down your heart you're still the little girl trying to impress her father."
Ouch, but oh so true."
Not only is there a great overall conflict, there is also a great inner conflict as evidenced in the dialogue above. Jaid's relationship with her father has been strained ever since her mother died at the dig where Jaid injured herself and ever since then she's stayed away from digs while her father became well known for his. There's a lot she has to overcome outside and within herself that was a joy to explore.
One last aspect out of many I really enjoyed about this story was the world building and the history of the Mayan culture. I have to admit, I didn't know much about it going in but after reading this, I'm eager to read more about the ancient civilization. I love how it was weaved into every aspect of the story and it helped drive the story at every turn. I also got to learn a lot about the belief systems and mythology, all of which was very interesting.
I have a few Joely Sue Burkhart books in my TBR that I've been collecting from Drollerie Press (one of my fave publishers) and after reading Bloodgate Guardian, I'm eager to dive into them. Ms. Burkhart has a way of writing a great story with snappy prose and dialogue to accompany such well rounded characters. I'm jazzed that Bloodgate Guardian was my first taste of her work and I can definitely say it won't be my last.
Bloodgate Guardian is now available in ebook format from Carina Press and other online bookstores. This is a review based on a book galley from Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.
Bloodgate Guardian was awesome! I really enjoyed this book filled with action, adventure, a little bit of romance and a lot of suspense. One of the many strengths of this book was the characters and story pacing. I loved that Jaid is not a generic kick butt heroine who rejects all feeling except her libido to do whatever needs to be done. She has a weakness (she injured her knee as a child during a dig with her parents), and although she shows signs of strength, she isn't afraid to break down with vulnerability when the weight of the world falls on her shoulders. She's a realistic heroine who shoes genuine fear and hesitance before going into a situation but when the chips are down, the girl's got moxie and will do what needs to be done. In other words, she's a great 3 dimensional character.
I also loved the hero, Ruin (especially his and his brother's name), and going into the book I tried to stay away from any spoilers or too much blurb info so it was a surprise to see how he ties into the story and not only serves as a gatekeeper in the temple but also a bridge for Jaid and her father as it ties into the story. Ruin is an appealing hero, but make no bones about it, he is also a ruthless killer with an edge. I love dangerous heroes and Ruin definitely qualifies as he teeters between killing Jaid or saving her at times. He makes no excuses for who and what he is and still there are qualities that make him redeemable so that the reader cheers him on.
Another thing I really liked was the tension that was built over the course of the story. Sometimes romances feel manipulated in that character's bodies react to one another within seconds of meeting each other instead of allowing the tension and need to grow naturally over time. In Bloodgate Guardian the characters reacted to more pressing matters and only later in the story did they start finding each other attractive. Even then, it slowly took its time while they focused on what was important which added to the "will they get together or won't they" that also added to the suspense in the story and made the actual consummation all the more rewarding after what they've been through. I love it when this course of action is taken because it keeps me guessing and flipping pages to find out how things unfold and how (or if) they will be together after the last page.
Another thing I really liked about the story is the dialogue. The story started out with a bang of an opening line: "He never hated his magic until it compelled him to kill" and just kept floating from there. Another fave of mine is "If men were as easy to decipher as Maya glyphs, then perhaps Jaid would have been able to translate "beware" carved in her boyfriend's handsome forehead and saved herself the trouble." Jaid often referred to herself as the Un-Indiana Jones which I thought was cute and during her revelation to how she hurt her knee and carries guilt due to her mother's death, there's a lot that's revealed through clever dialogue.
For instance:
"Do you know what they call me in the archeology circles? The Un-Indiana Jones."
Head tilted, he studied her, a small smile flickering on his face. "I have no idea what that means, but it amuses you."
"Yeah," she admitted, nodding. "But it's embarrassing too. Indiana Jones is a movie archeologist, an action-adventure hero. I've built up ruins and archeology in my mind, believing I had to be a great risk0taker, an action-adventure heroine of my own."
"Deep down your heart you're still the little girl trying to impress her father."
Ouch, but oh so true."
Not only is there a great overall conflict, there is also a great inner conflict as evidenced in the dialogue above. Jaid's relationship with her father has been strained ever since her mother died at the dig where Jaid injured herself and ever since then she's stayed away from digs while her father became well known for his. There's a lot she has to overcome outside and within herself that was a joy to explore.
One last aspect out of many I really enjoyed about this story was the world building and the history of the Mayan culture. I have to admit, I didn't know much about it going in but after reading this, I'm eager to read more about the ancient civilization. I love how it was weaved into every aspect of the story and it helped drive the story at every turn. I also got to learn a lot about the belief systems and mythology, all of which was very interesting.
I have a few Joely Sue Burkhart books in my TBR that I've been collecting from Drollerie Press (one of my fave publishers) and after reading Bloodgate Guardian, I'm eager to dive into them. Ms. Burkhart has a way of writing a great story with snappy prose and dialogue to accompany such well rounded characters. I'm jazzed that Bloodgate Guardian was my first taste of her work and I can definitely say it won't be my last.
Bloodgate Guardian is now available in ebook format from Carina Press and other online bookstores. This is a review based on a book galley from Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2010
The Bloodgate Guardian handles a new topic for me: Mayan history and legend. This novel is about Dr. Jaid Merrit, the Un-Indiana Jones. Alone for that term I love this book. Just kidding. Jaid is a born archologist. Her dad is a famous personality in this area and he sacrificed most of his personal life to become what he is, Jaid always stood in his shadow. She is an even greater mind than he is but since a dramatic accident in her past she has a huge fear of actually attending a dig, so she stays at home and loses herself in decrypting the Mayan language. She definetely is not one of those kick ass heroines. She'a afraid- a lot but I can totally related to that. She felt so real- exactly like I would feel if I would been thrown into that story.
So what happens? The last few months she decrypted a special text for her dad and when she receives an video mail form her dad telling her that it works, she can't believe her own eyes. She sees how her dad falls into the deep Gate in an Mayan Temple- The Bloodgate. What should she do now? Just give up all hope and live with the fact that her dad is for always lost or should she be stronger than her fears and actually go on a dig? She does the second and it is an action packed ride.
We meet Ruin at the actual Bloodgate. First thing: I completely adore his name. I'm so happy Joely could keep it because it fit him just right. I love the way it reflects his history. Nothing better than a name with a meaning. Ruin is the gatekeeper and older than we can imagine to ever become. He has issues with himself and his past actions. He's one of those brooding heroes I love so much. He made a huge mistake in the past, or so he believes, and he just can't forgive himself. He wants to safe his damned brother but he also believes that this would make everything worse. And with worse I mean causing apocalypse. He has a very set mind and won't change his opinion a tiny bit. When he meets Jaid his hardness starts to crack. He never felt that way near a woman. She is everything he would have not even dared to dream of. He's fascinated by her mind and character and would do anything to save her and keep her happy. That's a thing he was always afraid of. He always was the selfless brother and he has a hard time accepting his unconditional love for Jaid.
I loved the way Ruin and Jaid interacted. They fit together and you can feel the chemistry in every word they spoke. That's a thing I noticed in more than one of Joely books: she knows how to make the couple "perfect". They aren't all the same but they are unique in their own way but every time I read one of her books it feels like: Yes, that's the way they should be. They aren't without flaws or an easy fit but just never could imagine one of them with a different character. Her couples are more real than most in romance novels- they always speak to my heart and touch me deep inside.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book, besides the romance, was the wonderful detailed way Joely described the Mayan history and artifacts. Perhaps that's the dormant archeologist in me waking up but I was highly fascinated by each small piece of information or tidbit of background info about that topic. I have to admit that Mayan history wasn't something I was interested in before, I was always an Egypt kind of girl and I have a million of books to prove that, but Joely drew my attention and yes I already watched a few documentations about the Maya's after finishing this book. Reading the Bloodgate Guardian felt like watching Indiana Jones- thrilling and fascinating and even better with a spicy romance.
The Bloodgate Guardian is more story than romance focused and I surprisingly I liked it even more because of that. The story building is masterly done and I'm so intrigued by the whole setting that I can't wait to get book 2 in this series.Highly recommended for everyone who likes a thrilling plot, breathtaking action and touch of romance.
So what happens? The last few months she decrypted a special text for her dad and when she receives an video mail form her dad telling her that it works, she can't believe her own eyes. She sees how her dad falls into the deep Gate in an Mayan Temple- The Bloodgate. What should she do now? Just give up all hope and live with the fact that her dad is for always lost or should she be stronger than her fears and actually go on a dig? She does the second and it is an action packed ride.
We meet Ruin at the actual Bloodgate. First thing: I completely adore his name. I'm so happy Joely could keep it because it fit him just right. I love the way it reflects his history. Nothing better than a name with a meaning. Ruin is the gatekeeper and older than we can imagine to ever become. He has issues with himself and his past actions. He's one of those brooding heroes I love so much. He made a huge mistake in the past, or so he believes, and he just can't forgive himself. He wants to safe his damned brother but he also believes that this would make everything worse. And with worse I mean causing apocalypse. He has a very set mind and won't change his opinion a tiny bit. When he meets Jaid his hardness starts to crack. He never felt that way near a woman. She is everything he would have not even dared to dream of. He's fascinated by her mind and character and would do anything to save her and keep her happy. That's a thing he was always afraid of. He always was the selfless brother and he has a hard time accepting his unconditional love for Jaid.
I loved the way Ruin and Jaid interacted. They fit together and you can feel the chemistry in every word they spoke. That's a thing I noticed in more than one of Joely books: she knows how to make the couple "perfect". They aren't all the same but they are unique in their own way but every time I read one of her books it feels like: Yes, that's the way they should be. They aren't without flaws or an easy fit but just never could imagine one of them with a different character. Her couples are more real than most in romance novels- they always speak to my heart and touch me deep inside.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book, besides the romance, was the wonderful detailed way Joely described the Mayan history and artifacts. Perhaps that's the dormant archeologist in me waking up but I was highly fascinated by each small piece of information or tidbit of background info about that topic. I have to admit that Mayan history wasn't something I was interested in before, I was always an Egypt kind of girl and I have a million of books to prove that, but Joely drew my attention and yes I already watched a few documentations about the Maya's after finishing this book. Reading the Bloodgate Guardian felt like watching Indiana Jones- thrilling and fascinating and even better with a spicy romance.
The Bloodgate Guardian is more story than romance focused and I surprisingly I liked it even more because of that. The story building is masterly done and I'm so intrigued by the whole setting that I can't wait to get book 2 in this series.Highly recommended for everyone who likes a thrilling plot, breathtaking action and touch of romance.
October 26, 2010
The Bloodgate Guardian
takes us on a journey similar to Indiana Jones. In fact, the main character, Dr. Jaid Merritt, is known to some as the Un-Jones. She doesn't do digs. Instead she deciphers hieroglyphs for her famous father, who has spent all of her life on digs. He's currently gone missing in Guatemala. She travels to Guatemala with her father's friend and partner, Sam, to find her father, alive or dead.
This story was interesting, full of Mayan history, and moved quickly. The characters' sacrifices were touching and believable. The world building was done well. I liked the back story of Ruin and his brother. I enjoyed the book enough to read more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the opportunity to read this book free-of-charge.
This story was interesting, full of Mayan history, and moved quickly. The characters' sacrifices were touching and believable. The world building was done well. I liked the back story of Ruin and his brother. I enjoyed the book enough to read more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the opportunity to read this book free-of-charge.
July 8, 2010
When her father goes missing while opening the gates to the Mayan underworld, Jaid Merritt must put aside her fear of digs and head to the last place he was seen alive, a Mayan dig in Guatemala. There she not only discovers her father’s whereabouts, but a Mayan Warrior and the people her father was working for also hunt her. Rescue and help come from an unexpected corner in the form of Ruin, a Mayan Priest and shifter, cursed to be the Gatekeeper to the Mayan underworld. While trying to undo the damage her father did and finding him, Ruin and Jaid grow closer and an impossible and heartbreaking love story develops.
Jaid is brave, smart and stubborn. She lives and breathes Mayan glyphs and has dedicated herself to helping her father in order to gain the approval, love and admiration he’s always withheld from her
Ruin is broken, loyal and so powerful power just radiates off him. He oozes danger yet at the same time he has this vulnerable side that comes out when he’s with Jaid. He acts impulsively out of the love he has for the people close to him, which leads to unintentionally hurting them, and this eats away at him.
I struggled a little bit in the beginning with all the different creatures, characters, terms and world building but that was soon forgotten when I was pulled into a fascinating tale of Mayan mythology and romance. With every turn of the page fascinating events unfolded in developments and revelations that kept me riveted to the pages, enjoying the engaging characters and the thrilling plot. It didn’t take me long to become completely immersed in the story.
THE BLOODGATE GUARDIAN is a very dark paranormal romance and thriller and I must say it hovered on the edges of my comfort zone. I am not one who easily reads about gory stuff like people getting gutted, with intestines tumbling out and blood spurting around. There were two scenes in the beginning and one in the end that were pretty graphic in violence but I must say Joely Sue Burkhart pulled it off for me.
The ending was action-packed and nerve-wracking for a moment but I got the HEA I was rooting for so for that I thank you, Joely Sue! The ending also set up the next step in the overall story arc that can’t but become ongoing. Though Jaid and Ruin have their HEA the world is about to be devoured by evil, an evil they have to stop somehow and I am very curious to read how.
This was my first taste of Joely Sue Burkhart’s non-contemporary/erotic work and I definitely want to read more of it. I absolutely loved the extensive look into the Mayan world of mythology. It was truly fascinating and worth reading through the few violent scenes. THE BLOODGATE GUARDIAN is suspenseful and brilliantly set up. Romance is not the focus of this book in the first part of the book and that was absolutely okay with me as I was entranced and captivated by mythology, magic and plot. However, this doesn’t mean the chemistry between Ruin and Jade wasn’t impressive. It was definitely there, threaded through everything else going on in a subtle, clever way. To me the romance took a secondary role in the first part of the book due to the room needed for world building but it became a very strong emotional element in the last third of the book, which I loved.
THE BLOODGATE GUARDIAN once again proves that Carina Press has committed to bringing the reader exceptional, unusual books that definitely aren’t a-dime-a-dozen and books that give the reader an amazing reading experience.
April 27, 2012
Courtesy of Net Galley
A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!
Declared the “Un-Indiana Jones” by her students, archeology professor Dr. Jaid Merritt refuses to go on any digs. Memories of past tragedies keep her passion for archeology in the class room. However, when her father disappears after performing an ancient Mayan ritual using her translations of a codex he found, Jaid knows she must overcome her fear and venture into the Guatemalan jungle to find him. Little does she know just how much her life will change on the trip.
Mayan priest Ruin broke the rules of the Mayan gate Xibalba when centuries ago he brought his twin brother, Wrack, back from the dead. Now Ruin is cursed to be The Bloodgate Guardian for all eternity. When he was unable to prevent an archeologist from opening the gate, unleashing the demons, Ruin must do whatever it takes to right this wrong, even if it means killing the man’s daughter when she comes looking for her father. The last thing Ruin expected was to find himself falling for the beautiful and determined woman.
With multiple enemies on their trail, Ruin and Jaid must work together if they hope to overcome the evil Jaid’s father unleashed, but more than just their hearts are on the line.
In The Bloodgate Guardian, I discovered a fascinating and intensely paced adventure story full of demons and shape shifters and immortals (oh my!). From the first gripping scene to the final bittersweet encounter, I was thoroughly engrossed in this brilliantly realized dark fantasy tale. I have always loved stories about those mysterious Mayans and this book brings everything to the table with some wonderful world building.
I loved all of the characters we met in The Bloodgate Guardian, from our intrepid heroes Jaid and Ruin, to Jaid’s misguided but passionate about his work father, Charles. Even Wrack and his lost love Butterfly Star’s story lured me in and kept me reading, bringing more than a few tears to my eyes as we learn what happened to them. Ok, I sort of lied, I loved almost all the characters… the demon was pure evil and I have to admit, he even freaked me out more than a little bit, which doesn’t often happen for me. But this guy, this thing, chilled me to the bone. Jaid is just an ordinary woman, with all the normal faults and foibles of an ordinary woman. She’s forced out of her comfort zone into extraordinary circumstances, to rescue the one person she’s always counted on. Ruin is tortured by his own internal demons, and his guilt, forced to suffer, until Jaid walks into his life and turns things upside down. Watching these two overcome the obstacles between them and their happiness makes for a very powerful and moving love story.
Wow! The Bloodgate Guardian by Joely Sue Burkhart is an incredibly amazing book! I didn’t want to put it down and when I did, it was under extreme duress. I love stories about the Mayan culture, as well as the legends and beliefs associated with it. This book sucked me right in and didn’t release me until the bitter end. Excellent book, Joely! I hope the conclusion means more to come?
© Kelley A. Hartsell, December 2010. All rights reserved.
A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!
Declared the “Un-Indiana Jones” by her students, archeology professor Dr. Jaid Merritt refuses to go on any digs. Memories of past tragedies keep her passion for archeology in the class room. However, when her father disappears after performing an ancient Mayan ritual using her translations of a codex he found, Jaid knows she must overcome her fear and venture into the Guatemalan jungle to find him. Little does she know just how much her life will change on the trip.
Mayan priest Ruin broke the rules of the Mayan gate Xibalba when centuries ago he brought his twin brother, Wrack, back from the dead. Now Ruin is cursed to be The Bloodgate Guardian for all eternity. When he was unable to prevent an archeologist from opening the gate, unleashing the demons, Ruin must do whatever it takes to right this wrong, even if it means killing the man’s daughter when she comes looking for her father. The last thing Ruin expected was to find himself falling for the beautiful and determined woman.
With multiple enemies on their trail, Ruin and Jaid must work together if they hope to overcome the evil Jaid’s father unleashed, but more than just their hearts are on the line.
In The Bloodgate Guardian, I discovered a fascinating and intensely paced adventure story full of demons and shape shifters and immortals (oh my!). From the first gripping scene to the final bittersweet encounter, I was thoroughly engrossed in this brilliantly realized dark fantasy tale. I have always loved stories about those mysterious Mayans and this book brings everything to the table with some wonderful world building.
I loved all of the characters we met in The Bloodgate Guardian, from our intrepid heroes Jaid and Ruin, to Jaid’s misguided but passionate about his work father, Charles. Even Wrack and his lost love Butterfly Star’s story lured me in and kept me reading, bringing more than a few tears to my eyes as we learn what happened to them. Ok, I sort of lied, I loved almost all the characters… the demon was pure evil and I have to admit, he even freaked me out more than a little bit, which doesn’t often happen for me. But this guy, this thing, chilled me to the bone. Jaid is just an ordinary woman, with all the normal faults and foibles of an ordinary woman. She’s forced out of her comfort zone into extraordinary circumstances, to rescue the one person she’s always counted on. Ruin is tortured by his own internal demons, and his guilt, forced to suffer, until Jaid walks into his life and turns things upside down. Watching these two overcome the obstacles between them and their happiness makes for a very powerful and moving love story.
Wow! The Bloodgate Guardian by Joely Sue Burkhart is an incredibly amazing book! I didn’t want to put it down and when I did, it was under extreme duress. I love stories about the Mayan culture, as well as the legends and beliefs associated with it. This book sucked me right in and didn’t release me until the bitter end. Excellent book, Joely! I hope the conclusion means more to come?
© Kelley A. Hartsell, December 2010. All rights reserved.
October 5, 2011
The Bloodgate Guardian immediately caught my attention because of the storyline-Mayan history. I just love anything to do with that time period. This book was just an interesting twist on the paranormal romances I normally read.
When reading the books I felt like I really was on the dig with Jaid and was trying to figure out the mystery of what happened to her father with her. I loved how much information we got about the culture of the Mayans and that it wasn't dumbed down. I felt like I was a Mayan expert right along with Jaid. There was so much action to go along with the information that this book had more of an urban fantasy feel to me then a paranormal romance feel if that makes sense.
The relationship between Jaid and Ruin was one I really liked. When Jaid found that Ruin was a Jaguar shape shifter she did have her freak out moments, but it didn't go on for the entire books. I liked how they were friends first, and the romance gradually came instead of Jaid falling for him after one kiss. He was so protective of her, and she of him, but they didn't let it get in the way of the job that had to do-Jaid of finding her father & him of protecting the gates at all costs.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book is that while I had some idea of who the bad guys would be at the end, I liked the twists of why they became that way. The world created in this book was great, and I loved how by the end of the book Jaid had totally lost her Un-Indiana Jones nickname that the students where she taught gave her. The Bloodgate Guardian was just a refreshing read and I look forward to reading more by Joely Sue Burkhart.
June 8, 2011
The Bloodgate Guardian, by Joely Sue Burkhart, was my first foray into her world of fiction. And what a world it is. Her skills are evident in the research of the subject matter and in the layers of intrigue as she weaves the fantastic with the mundane.
Though I’ve always had an interest in archaeology and ruins, I seldom read fantasy that encompasses those areas. I decided to take a chance on this book, however, and see if it would be as boring and butchered as I feared. To my delight, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Few fantasies delve into Mayan culture to the extent covered here. So it was like a breath of fresh air to read about Mayan ruins, religion, and culture, and modern man’s attempts to uncover secrets better left alone. Ms. Burkhart’s use of language, location, history, and folklore impart a sense of credibility to the tale.
Tying these together is a story of human greed, rejection, death, despair, triumph, and love, and they’re woven tightly enough to allow me to suspend disbelief. Written in first person, split narrative, there were occasional bumps where the transition could have been a bit smoother, but they weren’t noticeable enough to detract from the story.
Overall, I would recommend this book as an interesting change of pace from vampires and werewolves. I haven’t seen any mention of a series, but I would definitely buy the next book.
Though I’ve always had an interest in archaeology and ruins, I seldom read fantasy that encompasses those areas. I decided to take a chance on this book, however, and see if it would be as boring and butchered as I feared. To my delight, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Few fantasies delve into Mayan culture to the extent covered here. So it was like a breath of fresh air to read about Mayan ruins, religion, and culture, and modern man’s attempts to uncover secrets better left alone. Ms. Burkhart’s use of language, location, history, and folklore impart a sense of credibility to the tale.
Tying these together is a story of human greed, rejection, death, despair, triumph, and love, and they’re woven tightly enough to allow me to suspend disbelief. Written in first person, split narrative, there were occasional bumps where the transition could have been a bit smoother, but they weren’t noticeable enough to detract from the story.
Overall, I would recommend this book as an interesting change of pace from vampires and werewolves. I haven’t seen any mention of a series, but I would definitely buy the next book.
July 4, 2012
3.5 stars
A little confusing at first, possibly thanks to the inventive world building (based on Maya mythology). The characters were interesting, and I appreciated that they had some nuance.
The hero is a centuries-old priest trying to protect the world from his past mistakes, but is unapologetic about having conducted human sacrifices for his gods. The heroine (who has serious qualms about that last bit) has to make tough decisions about whether to try to save her father from the Maya hell, at the risk of destroying the world. And somehow the moral choices these characters make seem real, rather than OTT or cheesy.
Still, I wasn't as engrossed in the story as I had hoped to be. I'm not sure if that was because of the pacing, or the new-to-me-and-a-little-confusing Maya mythology or just mid-summer lack of focus on my part. Things did pick up enough in the second half of the book that I'll probably pick up book two, though.
Favorite quote: "Next time I complain about grading mid-terms, remind me that I jumped into the world's deepest lake, got shot at, had my throat slit, and was chased by demons. I guess office hours aren't so bad, are they?"
A little confusing at first, possibly thanks to the inventive world building (based on Maya mythology). The characters were interesting, and I appreciated that they had some nuance.
The hero is a centuries-old priest trying to protect the world from his past mistakes, but is unapologetic about having conducted human sacrifices for his gods. The heroine (who has serious qualms about that last bit) has to make tough decisions about whether to try to save her father from the Maya hell, at the risk of destroying the world. And somehow the moral choices these characters make seem real, rather than OTT or cheesy.
Still, I wasn't as engrossed in the story as I had hoped to be. I'm not sure if that was because of the pacing, or the new-to-me-and-a-little-confusing Maya mythology or just mid-summer lack of focus on my part. Things did pick up enough in the second half of the book that I'll probably pick up book two, though.
Favorite quote: "Next time I complain about grading mid-terms, remind me that I jumped into the world's deepest lake, got shot at, had my throat slit, and was chased by demons. I guess office hours aren't so bad, are they?"
December 14, 2025
The action, romance and mystery were great too. I really liked it and thought it was a pleasant surprise. I'll definitely be reading the second book!
And while I can't go though and do this with all the names, here are the pronunciations for some:
XBALANQUE (Ruin's real name) - "Sher-ballankay" or "shblan-kay"
XIBALBA - "shee-bal-ba"
December 9, 2010
Dr. Jaid Merritt's father has mysteriously disappeared...into a portal after performing an ancient Mayan ritual...and she saw it all on her webcam. Jaid heads to her father's dig site (overcoming a childhood fear of digs), to try and find a way to bring him back.
Instead, she stumbles upon an ancient priest, and by ancient I mean thousands of years old, but still amazingly handsome, named Ruin. Ruin is the guardian of the gate her father inadvertently crossed through, which also allowed a few demons from hell into the world.
Jaid and Ruin rush to find a way to close the gate and save their loved ones from eternal torment at the hand of the demons, and to save the world from being devoured by the demons that escaped.
This is an Indiana Jones meets romance style of book, and the author really pulled it off very well. A great read (and not gory), full of action, adventure, mystery, and romance.
4/5
Instead, she stumbles upon an ancient priest, and by ancient I mean thousands of years old, but still amazingly handsome, named Ruin. Ruin is the guardian of the gate her father inadvertently crossed through, which also allowed a few demons from hell into the world.
Jaid and Ruin rush to find a way to close the gate and save their loved ones from eternal torment at the hand of the demons, and to save the world from being devoured by the demons that escaped.
This is an Indiana Jones meets romance style of book, and the author really pulled it off very well. A great read (and not gory), full of action, adventure, mystery, and romance.
4/5
October 11, 2019
A different story within the same legend
Having read Bloodgate, I am familiar with the story context and content. Following that same Mayan legend, Dr Jaid Merritt is the "Un-Indiana Jones" when it comes to her work as an archeologist. Her skill resides in glyph translations while her father does all the site work. However when her father disappears and Jaid sees it on video coerces her into immediate action. Little does she realize that she is just beginning her true adventure. Really good and I love that she finds love and gets a new role. I cannot wait to read the next story.
Having read Bloodgate, I am familiar with the story context and content. Following that same Mayan legend, Dr Jaid Merritt is the "Un-Indiana Jones" when it comes to her work as an archeologist. Her skill resides in glyph translations while her father does all the site work. However when her father disappears and Jaid sees it on video coerces her into immediate action. Little does she realize that she is just beginning her true adventure. Really good and I love that she finds love and gets a new role. I cannot wait to read the next story.
February 3, 2013
Though not mind blowing, The Bloodgate Guardian is well written, evenly paced and told with passion. What I consider pet peeves might be someone else’s literary crack. This is the sentence, the jury is now dismissed.
Review: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2010/08/a...
Review: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2010/08/a...
September 29, 2013
I went back and finished this but it was overly complicated so I won't rush to get book 2.
March 31, 2011
Ms Burkhart has created an original world with an intense history. I'd recommend it to anyone!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews