The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess (Strangely Beautiful, #3)

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The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess (Strangely Beautiful #3)

by Leanna Renee Hieber (Goodreads Author)

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 111 ratings · 27 reviews

The Goddess:
In the beginning, there were lovers: a winged deity of power and light, and a queen of grace and beauty. Phoenix was murdered, his beloved stolen away to the Whisper-world. But their passion inspired the Muses. Through great sacrifice, it could live again.

The Guard:
There are always six, mortal hosts for the divine. Battling spirits through the ages, they defy D...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published May 2nd 2011 by DP (first published April 22nd 2011)

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Book Expo 2011

78th out of 118 books — 168 voters

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Best Victorian Historical Fiction Set In Britain

58th out of 142 books — 292 voters

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May 01, 2011 Katie(babs) added it

We find out why Alexi wears a red cravat! Woo hoo.

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Feb 09, 2012 Jennifer Monzon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

I must begin this review with you must read the other two books The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker & The Dark Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker in order to fully understand this one as this is the prequel and the third book to the series. With that being said the beginning was a little slow for my liking but eventually it picks up. Again this is another story with different POV’s and since I haven’t read any of the other books, I found this to be a little irritating and con...more I must begin this review with you must read the other two books The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker & The Dark Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker in order to fully understand this one as this is the prequel and the third book to the series. With that being said the beginning was a little slow for my liking but eventually it picks up. Again this is another story with different POV’s and since I haven’t read any of the other books, I found this to be a little irritating and confusing. It was distracting how every one's story was kind of on the same level and no one or no relationship really stood out. That was very bland to me and I think that’s why I wasn’t feeling the story as much as I would have liked to. However, the world that Leanne has created is magnificent. I found it most intriguing, how the Cairo Guard were build and the multiple sacrifices they faced. Especially the tole it takes on them and how they are playing secret roles and can not tell anyone, not even their families. We see all the chaos and misunderstanding between the Guard but we also see it distinguish as they each realize their role in the Guard and in the world.

The story begins in Cairo and with Beatrice. She’s in Cairo with her father, a British archaeologist when she receives “the call”. Beatrice and five other people have been selected to be the next guard. Once she and the other five have settled, Persephone throws in a curve ball that will leave Beatrice and the rest second guessing their purpose not only in life but in the guard as well. Persephone's one goal is to be with her beloved Phoenix. Trapped in Whisper World with Darkness, she must find a way to help her guards without pissing off Darkness, to find the man and woman in her vision that she believes can save the world.

Although to fully understand this book you need to read the first two, it doesn’t take away from the amazing and creative world Leanne has created. I recommend you this book, after the first two of course.
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Jul 24, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess

Leanna Rennee Hieber
Kindle Edition: 580 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing (May 3, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: DP (May 2, 2011)

The Goddess
In the beginning, there were lovers: a winged deity of power and light, and a queen of grace and beauty. Phoenix was murdered, his beloved stolen away to the Whisper-world. But their passion inspired the Muses. Through great sacrifice, it could live a

...more

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May 06, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, fantasy

The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess is a prequel to the first two books in Leanna Renee Hieber’s adorable historical fantasy series. In this book, we are taken back to a time before The Guard that we have come to know. The Goddess and her beloved Phoenix start a new guard in Cairo. We are introduced to Beatrice, The Leader, Verena The Healer, Ahmed The Heart, Ibrahim who is Intuition and George The Artist all chosen to perform The Grand Work, keeping mortals safe from the spirits that hau...more The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess is a prequel to the first two books in Leanna Renee Hieber’s adorable historical fantasy series. In this book, we are taken back to a time before The Guard that we have come to know. The Goddess and her beloved Phoenix start a new guard in Cairo. We are introduced to Beatrice, The Leader, Verena The Healer, Ahmed The Heart, Ibrahim who is Intuition and George The Artist all chosen to perform The Grand Work, keeping mortals safe from the spirits that haunt this earth. As this new team struggle with their new role in life, we also see a lot of the struggle the Goddess is going through in Whisper-World.

Persephone, The Goddess is trapped in Whisper-World with Darkness. Once in love with her beloved Phoenix, he has now perished and while his physical remains remain close to The Goddess, his fire is the one that alights the leaders of The Guard. The Goddess must play games with Darkness. While she can leave Whisper-World to help guide her Guard members, she can never be gone too long, else Darkness goes into a rage. A war is on the horizon and Darkness is torturing those Guard members that have passed on in spirit form. The Goddess has a vision of a man and a woman (that turns out to be Alexi and Persephone) and knows they are the hope to save everyone from Darkness. So Goddess and Phoenix move to London, where Alexi and crew are so very young, and the journey begins.

I had hard time getting into this one. First let me say I think you must read the first two books in this series to follow along with this one, even though it is a prequel. The new Guard we are introduced to in Cairo didn’t hold my interest like Alexi’s guard. Now, that could be just because I adore Alexi, Percy etc and didn’t want to meet new Guard members. But I found the first part of this book to be very slow. What did hold my interest are the scenes between The Goddess and Darkness. This series has such sweet, tender, almost innocent moments between the Guard members, but then Leanna Renee Hieber throws the Whisper-World scenes in and I think they are so well done. So dark, depressing and intriguing. Darkness has latched on to The Goddess, and there is this game she plays to try to keep everyone safe. Very eerie and evil and such a contrast to the sweet nature of her other characters.

Once the crew makes it over to London, things really pick up in this book. We learn how Alexi’s Guard comes to be. We watch the struggle of The Goddess to figure out how to predict The Darkness’s next move. And we watch the Cairo guard and the consequences of being done with their Grand Work early. They are kind of discarded but the Goddess has set a course, and they must realize they are a piece of a much bigger puzzle.

I’m glad we got a glimpse into the early days of Alexi and crew. Even though this book isn’t my favorite, If you haven’t read the first two books in this series, I highly recommend them.

Rating: C+(less)

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Apr 26, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this e-ARC via NetGalley for review

Leanna Renee Hieber's The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess was a nice prequel to the series. It lets us get an inside glimpse to pretty much all the characters we've met in the past two books and see how everything came to be in the beginning. What led our heroes and heroines to their destinies. It was quite nice.

It took me longer than I thought to read this book, but it wasn't due to the writing or pacing or anything like that. It was a rather...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Tahlia Newland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

Five stars to this beautiful, passionate, sophisticated and moving gothic fantasy set in Victorian England. Leanna Renee Heiber’s language is like poetry in prose form, evocative, beautiful to the ear and rich with many-layered meaning. A memorable book.

‘The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess’ is the third in the award winning, bestselling ‘Strangely Beautiful’ series’. Although it’s a prequel to the first book, ‘The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker’ - which I awarded an M-Award...more Five stars to this beautiful, passionate, sophisticated and moving gothic fantasy set in Victorian England. Leanna Renee Heiber’s language is like poetry in prose form, evocative, beautiful to the ear and rich with many-layered meaning. A memorable book.

‘The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess’ is the third in the award winning, bestselling ‘Strangely Beautiful’ series’. Although it’s a prequel to the first book, ‘The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker’ - which I awarded an M-Award to - it is definitely one to read after the first two because the previous books have wetted our appetite for the details revealed in this one.

The blurb says simply -

The goddess Persephone begins her quest to be reincarnated with her true love, and more secrets of The Guard are revealed.

In this story, we discover more about Beatrice and about her role in the grand plan that leads to the events at the end of book two. Most of all we come to know and love the goddess Persephone as she was before she incarnated as Percy Parker. In parallel with Persephone’s tale is the story of Beatrice and Ibrahim and the trials and dynamics of the Guard before the one lead by Alexi (as it was in the previous two books).

The first novel in the series was so captivating right from the start, that perhaps it is too much to expect that any book not starting with Alexi Rychman and Percy Parker could compete with the instant fascination I had for ‘The strangely Beautiful Tale of Percy Parker.’ We’re given a tantalising taste of the young Alexi in the prologue, but Beatrice and Ibrahim carry the story in the beginning and for a start, I found it not so engaging as the previous two books, though probably simply because I was thirsting for Alexi. My engagement soon warmed up as I got to know Persephone in her Goddess form and began to see in her character aspects of the mortal woman she was to become. When the story began to explore Persephone’s fascination with Alexi, I became totally, blissfully, enraptured by the interactions she made him forget! It was all the better for the wait.

Favorite quotes –

‘But truly, the gods are such shameless flirts.’

‘One must meet darkness with joy. It lessens his power.’

This is a book you can immerse yourself in like a warm scented bath, and I recommend the series for everyone who loves romantic gothic fantasy, the Greek tale of Persephone and the underworld, and beautiful language. This book also set the scene for another in the series, one that, it appears, will follow Alexi and Percy’s daughter. I look forward to that as avidly as I did this one.
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Jun 24, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Even though this is actually listed as #3 in the Strangely Beautiful tales, the story is a prequel to the first 2 books, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker and The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (Strangely Beautiful). I reviewed both of them HERE. In a strange way, I do think it was appropriate to list it as #3 rather than .5 or such because the story makes more sense if you have read the first 2 books prior. Having said that, I must admit that I did not enjoy this bo...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Tara Hall rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Hieber fans

Shelves: reviewed

While the writing is still gorgeous here, the settings impeccable, the action flawless, I wasn't as in love with this story as I was with The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker and The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker. I liked Beatrice and Ibrahim well enough, but I didn't love them. It was interesting to see the background of Persephone's struggles before taking mortal form, but I didn't care for her that much. I adored Percy, but her goddess form is impetuous, childish, a...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews, historical-pnr

The Perilous Prohecy of Guard and Goddess is a prequel to the events that happen in the Percy Parker books. Not always a fan of prequels I was a little bit leary about reading this book. But since I love the world Leanna Renee Hieber has created, I wanted to give it a go.

Beatrice and Ibrahaim's story is beautiful and passionate. While that isn't all that happens in the book I enjoyed the story of them. It was interesting seeing the London guard come together. A dark and seductive world. Hieber b...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Lizzie Feliciano rated it 5 of 5 stars

Started out slower then I hoped, but they had to set up the past Guard so we knew who they were. The beginning was also great to have because it went in detail how all guards were selected in the past before the final group that was part of prophecy. Most of the beginning was just greater detail of things that were shorlty explained in the other books. The book is a great prequel to the strangely beautiful series. It explains many things that were only touched on in the first couple books. I lov...more Started out slower then I hoped, but they had to set up the past Guard so we knew who they were. The beginning was also great to have because it went in detail how all guards were selected in the past before the final group that was part of prophecy. Most of the beginning was just greater detail of things that were shorlty explained in the other books. The book is a great prequel to the strangely beautiful series. It explains many things that were only touched on in the first couple books. I loved that Hieber switched viewpoints throughout the entire book, mainly between Beatrice, Ibrahim, Alexi, and Persephone as the goddess. Every now and then it would switch to one of the other guard members or Pheonix's spirit. Towards the end of the book it was fun to see the guard we are familiar with from the viewpoint of the past guard who were forced not to speak to them of who they were. A few of the things that were actually gone through in this book that I was glad to understand better from the past books, were of course the relationship between Beatrice and her second Ibrahim, Persephone and Pheonix's relationship and their experiences in more detail, how exactly Alexi's grandmother died and how she knew about Alexi and his powers, the London Guard's first job, and how the cafe came into Josie's hands. One thing I was disappointed about was that they didn't explain how Ahmed came into the whisper world. I will say when Persephone had to take her next form as baby Percy Parker I was crying. It was quite an emotional scene, the fall and rise of a goddess. It was wonderfully written. Another of the things that got me really excited was that it had a couple hints into what will happen in the fourth book Miss Violet and the Great War. I wasn't sure about the hint but after reading the excerpt of the 4th book in the back, it proved that it was an explanation of how something came to be in the 4th book. I was disappointed at first when I found out this was a prequel and not a continuation of the other guard, but I fell in love with the Cairo guard and thier story and it was a fun to read. Love this series and can't wait to keep reading. (less)

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Feb 10, 2012 Once Upon rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Jun 29, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-mythology

I generally dislike prequels, but decided to give The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess a shot because I enjoyed both of Leanna Renee Hieber's previous Strangely Beautiful books. I'm very glad I gave Perilous Prophecy a chance.

Perilous Prophecy focuses on the everything leading up to the London guard's meeting Percy Parker. We get to experience the early days of Alexi's guard, see exactly how Persephone became Percy Parker, and get to know the Egypt guard that was only briefly touched upon...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebooks, fantasy, victorian

Beautiful and elegant as ever, this is probably my favorite book in the trio so far. We learn much more about the history of the Guard here, and see their immortal patron goddess in her original flesh. I enjoyed the further glimpses into Darkness, Persephone’s underworld captor. This series is certainly a unique twist on the old myth, and I always enjoy those.

We get to meet the members of the Guard who were active before Percy and Alexi’s group, and I loved seeing the Muses in new bodies. It was...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Vpop rated it 3 of 5 stars

Prequels are great when they fill in the gaps and make a fuller story, and in this aspect, Perilous Prophecy delivers. It was nice to find out about the history of the Guard, learn more about Phoenix and Persephone, and of Percy's origin. However, I am of a mixed mind when it comes to my feelings about this book.

There's a part of me that is glad to have read it, since it rounded out the wonderful, gothic world that was created in the first two books. The author has a beautiful way with words, an...more

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May 16, 2011 Mishel Zabala rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley, for-review, e-book, arc

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

I have yet to come across an author who is similar in writing style to Leanna Renee Hieber. I feel repetitive when I say that her work is pure magic, but it’s true. Having read the previous books in the Strangely Beautiful series I have come to really love and enjoy the haunting beauty that she’s created. It’s so easy to become attached to each of the characters. Their fates are indeed perilous and their journeys provide a thrilling, emotional, and magical tale that contin...more My Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

I have yet to come across an author who is similar in writing style to Leanna Renee Hieber. I feel repetitive when I say that her work is pure magic, but it’s true. Having read the previous books in the Strangely Beautiful series I have come to really love and enjoy the haunting beauty that she’s created. It’s so easy to become attached to each of the characters. Their fates are indeed perilous and their journeys provide a thrilling, emotional, and magical tale that continues to enthrall me.

This prequel is much bigger than just Percy’s origins, the story goes beyond Percy to the goddess she once was. Persephone, the name the goddess favors out of all given to her, and her beloved Phoenix have fought against Darkness for so long. Even the Muses fight with them and for eternal love they share. Decades before Alexi and his Guard’s time the Muses chose a group of young adults in Cairo to fight the Grand Work. Beatrice Smith (whom we meet in book two) is the Leader and this is her story as much as it is Persephone’s.

I absolutely adored getting to know the goddess more. She’s more of a myth or a past recollection in the previous books. This time around she is fully fleshed out along with the her heartbreaking separation from Phoenix, her battle with Darkness in the Whisper-world, her discovery of the young Alexi Rychman, and her ever-present love for her current and past Guard. I also mentioned that Beatrice is as much a main character as the goddess. Her fate is entwined with that of the London Guard and Percy but it was refreshing to get her back story. The love story between her and Ibrahim was filled with tension and frustration but the two are obviously made for each other. Prideful, headstrong, and impossibly stubborn I couldn’t help but want to shake the both of them!

I don’t want to spoil the story for those who have yet to read any of the books in the Strangely Beautiful saga. All of these books are to be savored and read without spoilers. It’s the discovery of the magic within Leanna’s writing that makes the books so wonderful to read. While many secrets are unveiled or further explained in The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess there is still much to be discovered as more mysteries pop up and the conclusion to the saga is started after the book is over. With the excerpt of the final book in place Percy and Alexi have an entire new battle to prepare for that involves a huge piece of their heart: their daughter!

You really must find the time to read these books if you haven’t had the chance yet. I feel the conclusion will be epic and you don’t definitely don’t want to miss out when it’s finally released. (less)

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May 12, 2011 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

(4.5 stars) In The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, we met Beatrice Smith, a member of the Guard that preceded Alexi Rychman’s circle. The Perilous Prophecy is a prequel, focusing on Beatrice’s time in the Guard and on the goddess Persephone as she makes preparations for the war against Darkness. While this book is set earlier than the two existing books, I recommend starting with The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, because the Grand Work is explained there in more det...more (4.5 stars) In The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, we met Beatrice Smith, a member of the Guard that preceded Alexi Rychman’s circle. The Perilous Prophecy is a prequel, focusing on Beatrice’s time in the Guard and on the goddess Persephone as she makes preparations for the war against Darkness. While this book is set earlier than the two existing books, I recommend starting with The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, because the Grand Work is explained there in more detail.

Beatrice is the daughter of a British archaeologist living in Cairo. As the story begins, she and five other young people in Cairo receive the call: they are to be the next Guard. At first it seems almost too easy. They settle smoothly into their new lives and couples begin to form. But then Persephone sends the group to England, and everything changes. Beatrice and her Guard are faced with the prospect of finding purpose in their lives when they thought they’d already found it.

Meanwhile, Persephone is weakening after centuries spent in the sinister Whisper-world, and Darkness is persecuting the spirits of the Guards that have come before. Persephone’s only hope of reuniting with her lover, Phoenix, is to take human form and become mortal. Here we get to see Persephone in her divine form and get to know her better than we did previously. Leanna Renee Hieber avoids the trap of making her too perfect and instead gives us a complex character. She can be capricious — in part because she’s losing it, and in part because a certain degree of flightiness is just part of her nature — and at times I was angry with her right along with Beatrice even as I had a great deal of sympathy for her.

Perilous Prophecy features a touching love story between Beatrice and her fellow Guard member, Ibrahim, two incredibly stubborn people from very different backgrounds. Running alongside that is the story of another relationship, a platonic one: that of Beatrice and Persephone. Stoic and reserved, Beatrice is the perfect foil for Persephone’s utter emotional openness, and Beatrice has just the right kind of personality to dispense “tough love” to a goddess!

Like the previous books, Perilous Prophecy is written in Hieber’s lovely, old-fashioned style. She evokes the literature of the period and also incorporates it into the story, particularly in one terrifically tense scene in which two characters use a passage from a novel to convey emotions they’re too shy to confess any other way. The mythology is compelling, the emotional journeys are moving, and the treatment of diverse religious backgrounds is beautifully done: all who work toward good are seen as having common cause, no matter the external differences.

The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess may well be my favorite of the Strangely Beautiful books so far. Certainly it had me reaching for the Kleenex! I only wish it had been longer. After the conclusion, Hieber includes a teaser for book four, Miss Violet and the Great War, which will tell the story of the daughter of Percy and Alexi. I can’t wait.

I originally wrote this review for FantasyLiterature.com.
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Apr 26, 2011 Monica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Ms. Hieber has done it again. This book is just as wonderful as the other two books this series, although this is sort of a prequel to the other books. You get to find out so many things in this book, so many questions are finally answered, and I know I am going to have to go back and re-read these books just so I can jump back into the world with this fresh new knowledge. Ok, I am going to try and keep the gushing to a minimum but you all know how I get about books I love.

First off this book is...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Lexie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-owned, book-type-tradepaperback, autographed, review-blog, genre-romance-historical

This prequel to the Persephone Parker books (set about 21 years before those books) gives us back story on the Goddess' fight against the Darkness as well as the Guard directly before the Persephone Parker Guard (plus background on the Goddess herself).

Interestingly it should be noted that this book is set in 1867--the year that Alexi's crew become the Guard--but months before when a cadre of young people in Cairo come into possession of that duty. This other Guard, a more disparate group of you...more This prequel to the Persephone Parker books (set about 21 years before those books) gives us back story on the Goddess' fight against the Darkness as well as the Guard directly before the Persephone Parker Guard (plus background on the Goddess herself).

Interestingly it should be noted that this book is set in 1867--the year that Alexi's crew become the Guard--but months before when a cadre of young people in Cairo come into possession of that duty. This other Guard, a more disparate group of young men and women then the Guard we know, share similarities with Alexi's crew, but are cut from a wholly different fabric.

I'll say this upfront--I adore Leanna's writing. I have since the very first page of the first book. That said there were times when I'd grow impatient with the Cairo Guard because of their reactions and actions. They're younger then Alexi's Guard (at least, younger then when we see Alexi's Guard working. Comparatively speaking they receive the Summons to Duty later in their age then Alexi's Guard), and are from several different religions and nationalities so their responses to things would by nature be different. Intellectually that all makes sense. Doesn't mean I wasn't glaring at the screen of my e-reader demanding they get their heads on straight however.

I can say this for the Cairo Guard though, it was fascinating watching how they learned to work with each other and mesh their various beliefs. Alexi's Guard, maybe because they have two decades on the Cairo Guard or maybe because they are all (to my knowledge) Christian of some nature, rarely had the problems the Cairo Guard faced. For instance when Ibrahim moves in with Ahmed's family or even when the Guard first meet each other, cultural misunderstandings are voiced. However the Grand Work smooths out a lot of the troubles as the teens find themselves suddenly given a place in the world.

I appreciated that Leanna used this book to also illustrate better the other side of being called to duty. Most of the members of the Cairo Guard had families--mothers, fathers and siblings who could never know about their new roles. Deliberately Leanna shows us what this toll has on those members especially with Beatrice who until her call to arms was very close with her father. She muses at one point that there was now a distance that couldn't be bridged, not a painful one, but an instinctual one both her and her father felt. Ahmed expresses a similar feeling, though with less wistfulness I believe.

The book is really two sided--we see the Cairo Guard (of whom we met Beatrice in the Percy Parker books previously), but we also watch Persephone (aka the Goddess) as she begins to fade more and more. This is a more realized Persephone, one who isn't perfect and doesn't present herself as perfect. In between her encouraging speeches to the Guard she begs to see the sights or becomes desperate as the Underworld eats away at her. Ultimately this book also sets the stage for why Persephone finally took human form (in the form of Percy Parker) and paves the way for the fourth book (Miss Violet and the Great War).

This should be read as the third book in the series if only because though this is about an earlier Guard, Leanna treats this not as a true prequel. We are given background, but the foundations are not addressed. The assumption being that the reader has read the Percy Parker books beforehand I think, so Leanna doesn't feel as great a need to elaborate on the Grand Work. Partially I think this is because the Cairo Guard are treated almost as placeholders for Alexi's Guard. We know this Guard doesn't last an extraordinary amount of time, we also know that what transpires is mainly set up for when Percy is born and the Grand Work is truly in play. (less)

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Jun 22, 2011 Catherine Siemann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: neovictorians

I've been enjoying Leanna Renee Hieber's Strangely Beautiful series from the beginning, but in Book #3, a prequel to the others, she has given us exactly what I wanted: more detail on her mythology, and more on the Guard, the group she calls her "Victorian ghostbusters." It's nice to learn more about Beatrice and Ibrahim from book #2, and the multicultural Cairo Guard is intriguing; I would have liked to have more time with them before the novel shifts to London and Alexi's group. Nonetheless, I...more

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May 28, 2012 Chally added it

Shelves: first-reads

A cool fusion of genres, and passionate writing. I felt it could have included much more on the inner lives of the rest of the Guard, and Ibrahim's emotional journey needed more attention, because it was such a powerful element of the novel. The emotional note is pretty constant, and would have benefited from more variation. I'd read the other books in the series, I really got into this.

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Feb 18, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical, traded

This was...interesting. Strange, but interesting. There seems to be some confusion as to where this series belongs. I don't know that I'd call it romance - although there is romance, the Grand Work seems to be central to everything - but the first books in the series are labeled as such. Maybe historical fantasy w/ romantic elements. Eh. Whatever.

Would I read it again? Probably not. Have read entirely too many PNR types with The Ultimate Battle Between Good and Evil. Also, don't particularly car...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Sherri Dub rated it 5 of 5 stars

I won this book in a contest on twitter from Ms. Hieber, but I would've gladly purchased it.
I love the way this woman writes.
The mythology that is expanded with the characters, Persephone and even the Guard,are effortlessly done with such beautiful transitions. One simply cannot think about pomegranites without feeling a bit of despair for the Heroine's plight.
She makes this look easy,people.
Very enjoyable.
I like that this book is a new "genre" Steampunkish~Paranormal~Romance.
There is such a fl...more

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May 17, 2011 Tasha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts, romance, science-fic-fantasy

The ending was a lot better than the beginning, but the book felt like it had no real purpose. And there were a lot of annoying characters.

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Nov 01, 2011 April Smithson rated it 5 of 5 stars

A prequel to the beautiful series elegant and multi layered. A fantastic gothic Victorian story as captivating as the previous two.

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Aug 26, 2011 Karen Hartshorn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this more then the first two. Can't wait to read the last.

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Oct 22, 2011 Misti rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook

Good book. I think anyone who liked the first two will like this one. However, I can't help but wish there had been a little more Beatrice and Ibrahim and a little less of young Alexi and the goddess. Just based on the cover blurb, I expected a little different story.

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Jun 30, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I began this book, I noticed it was unlike any book I had been interested in before. However, I couldn't stop reading it! I would recommend this book and author to anyone needing a good book to read this summer! :)

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Jun 17, 2013 Meghan Schuler marked it as to-read

Jun 08, 2013 Penelope rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jun 08, 2013 Lexie marked it as to-read

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About Leanna Renee Hieber

Author, actress and playwright, Leanna grew up in rural Ohio, graduated with a BFA in Theatre, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London. She adapted 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays have been produced around the country. She is a 4 time Prism Award winner for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance. Her debut novel, The Strangely...more Author, actress and playwright, Leanna grew up in rural Ohio, graduated with a BFA in Theatre, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London. She adapted 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays have been produced around the country. She is a 4 time Prism Award winner for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance. Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in the "Strangely Beautiful" saga of Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels (Barnes & Noble Bestseller) won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book) and is currently in development as a musical theatre production. DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, begins a Gothic paranormal saga set in 1880 New York City, named an INDIE NEXT title; a recommended buy by the American Book Association, a Scholastic book fairs "Highly Recommended" title and is a finalist in the 2012 Daphne du Maurier awards for excellence in Mystery/Romantic Suspense. The sequel, THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART released to acclaim and in the manner of the Victorians she writes about she is serializing the finale, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF INCORPORATE THINGS, on her blog. Her next Gaslamp Fantasy saga for Tor/Macmillan, THE ETERNA FILES, releases in 2014. A character from THE ETERNA FILES is featured in her short story included in QUEEN VICTORIA'S BOOK OF SPELLS (Tor, 3/13) and all her Victorian-set series feature crossover characters.

Leanna is a proud member of member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the International Thriller Writers. She is a proud co-founder of Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York City. A member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Leanna works often in television and film. She is playing the role of Deputy Kellion in Auror's Tale web-series. When not writing or on set, she loves a good Goth club, adventuring about her adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and their beloved rescued lab rabbit.(less)

More about Leanna Renee Hieber...

Books by Leanna Renee Hieber

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (Strangely Beautiful, #1)

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (Strangely Beautiful, #2)

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (Magic Most Foul, #2)

A Midwinter Fantasy (Strangely Beautiful, #2.5) (Sylph, #2.5) (The Magic Knot, #3)

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Quotes from The Perilous Prophecy ...

“Ibrahim shook his head. "Women. You are enigmas."

"No, we're just always waiting for men to say the proper thing. Now and then you do. And upon such occasion, we rejoice.” — 4 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9647782-the-perilous-prophecy-of-guard-and-goddess?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294301871l/9647782.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9647782-the-perilous-prophecy-of-guard-and-goddess?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess by Leanna Renee Hieber[/url]

The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess (Strangely Beautiful #3)

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