When sixteen-year-old twins Emma and Evin LeFay are suddenly forced to pack their belongings after the tragic murder of their mother, they soon find that the busy city life of Boston, Massachusetts is more than they could have expected...
It's after a close-run in with a group of menacing creatures, and the sudden aid of the same strange people that have been following them since their arrival to the city that Emma and Evin quickly realize there is more to Boston than skyscrapers and noisy cars.
Left with no other options and seeking the truth behind their mother's murder, Emma and Evin accompany their saviors to a place known as Hawthorne Academy. It's here that the twins soon learn they are part of a supernatural race with rare abilities, one Otherworld race amongst four other paranormal races that have lived in disguise as humans for centuries.
Being part of an Otherworld race has its drawbacks, however, when Emma and Evin are enrolled for training at Hawthorne after a heated meeting with the Otherworld Council and its leaders. It's either sink or swim for these Otherworldly twins as they train at the academy and learn to control their unique gifts.
It's Emma and Evin's job to protect both realms from the darkness that taints them and the mysterious Precursor that seems to want them dead.
It was at an early age K.L. discovered that she was destined to be nothing more than a (witty) muggle. From there, she realized she was not whatsoever athletically gifted, an evil genius, or the next prophesied jedi. One thing she was, however, was a dreamer. As a result, some of her best friends and biggest influences growing up were the characters from her favorite books.
The passion behind K.L.’s writing comes from the ability to be anyone and do anything, and because she can share the multiple personalities living in her head without anyone judging her—much. When not writing, she can be found haunting the local coffee shop, killing zombies, or spoiling her only child, Lily, the small poodle with the big attitude.
This was a great debut novel for the wonderful Ms Penington!
Evin and Emma are twins whose world is completely shattered. They soon learn NOTHING is as it seems and everything they've ever known is a sham!
There were a lot of secondary characters to keep up with, it might been helpful to have a glossary in the back explaining who each person was, what realm they were from, and also a description of each 'creature' they encountered.
There was just enough drama to keep me interested, without feeling the need to roll my eyes constantly.
The ending was great, enough of a buildup for book 2, but without the tear-your-hair-out cliffhanger that seems so popular right now.
This was *one hundred percent* a young adult book, Ms Penington kept everything nice a clean (which is a line a lot of authors are toeing lately). I'd definitely be comfortable passing this to my young teen daughter to read.
As someone who doesn't read a whole lot of young adult fiction, because its usually cheesy and boring, I was skeptical as always when starting this book. The first thing I noticed while reading was an instant connection with the main characters. It's rare to find such well written and strong characters in the YA genre these days. And as if that wasn't enough K.L. follows the strong characters with a very original story line, another thing you don't often in a lot of books nowadays! The story kept me engaged and captivated and even on the edge of my seat at points. Overall a very excellent novel and even more so when you consider it is the author's first. A very promising author and I look forward for many more to follow!
From the beginning you can tell that this YA series is unlike the others. This book is a must read! It's not the typical stuff that is out there to read. It has a brilliant mix of Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, and of course some romance! What I loved most about the book is that it has you on your toes from the instant you start reading it. You will fall in love with Emma and Evin LeFay and their journeys to discovering who they truly are!
This book is fantastic! It pulls you into the story from page one. I would suggest anyone who enjoyed the Harry Potter series or The Mortal Instruments series try this book. It could be the next big trilogy in Young Adult Fiction. I loved the writing style, the story flowed really well, and the characters were relatable. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!
Starting out with action on the very first page, The Guardians is a read that is fun, suspenseful, and cleverly charming. The characters were easy to connect to which made the book a page-turner all by itself. I can't wait for the next addition to the series! :)
This is very obviously targeted at the teen reader with typical teenage romance dramas throughout (no sex or swearing, good for all ages) but an interesting story keeps you reading.
Needs some more proof reading, mostly mixed up words & happens more often in the last 3rd of the book.
This was an awesome story. I was utterly captivated from the first chapter. The book is over 500 pages but the story moved at such a fast pace that it was a very fast read for me. I just could not put this book down. I was absolutely absorbed with the world and characters that the author created.
The story is fascinating, intriguing and exciting! I loved all of the characters. I felt a connection with all of them. Each of the teens had their own unique personality that I couldn't help but love all of them. They are strong, brave, intelligent and yet they can make some poor choices. Love, humor, action, mystery, teen angst.....this book has it all.
This book is well written, well though out, highly imaginative and very addictive. I can't wait to read the next book! Great books for teens as well as adults.
The Guardians by: Kendell Penington 5 supernatural stars
This book was amazing. It’s about twins who are thrown into a world they didn’t even know existed. They went from everyday teens trying to finish high school to guardians of the two realms. There are so many super natural beings in here it’s hard to keep up. Now don’t go thinking it’s the common supes like vampires, weres, and shapeshifters. They are not to be seen in this book. It’s a whole new kind of breed like Dracons, celestial beings, and so much more. I just do not even know where to start; the book is just packed with so much. I just couldn’t get enough can’t wait to start the second.
Fascinating new world even if it followed closely the pattern of "teenager who had mysterious gifts and must go through training to learn their purpose". Even has the normal teenage romance/drama. Characters are fun and likable. The story seemed to need honing - how many gifts do these kids have and how many types of fairy stories have we mashed together? And leaves big questions that if answered or dealt with, could have added to the mystery. Still, the world was unique and the story simple to follow along and I enjoyed it.
Emma and Evin are twins who must learn about their past and discover their destiny in this fantasy novel. They encounter another world with beings of different abilities. There are Arcanes, Summoners, Borrowers, Dracons and Celestials as well as the not so friendly creatures, Riders and Navashers. Those who like the Mortal Instruments series would probably like this series as well. I also have to say I love the cover.
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are fun and humorous. My favorite thing is the witty back and forth amoung the characters. reminded me a bit of how some of my closets friends could be. And it's hard not to fall for Evin, Tristan, Claire, Emma and even Logan, Victoria and all the others. :)
This has been the first book that I literally couldn't put down in a while. I finished it less than a day after buying it. The characters seemed real and relatable and the plot never slowed down or bored me. I can't wait for book two!
This book was amazing! K.L. Penington did a great job of finding the perfect balance between drama, action, and a smidge of romance. And the book was clean too! The end of the book left you wanting more and I can't wait to read #2.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a new different kind of spin on Fantasy, and I loved it! It was a really cool idea that morphed into a great book! I recommend it!