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Guardian of Guardians: The Midnight Read Series Book 1
Master your Magic. Protect what is Yours.
She needed answers, and there was only one place to find them.
Daphne Guardiana's life takes an extraordinary turn when she inherits her Grandmother's fantasy bookstore. Little does she know, she's about to unravel the secrets of her family that will change her life forever.
A centaur who vows to protect her.
A deep voice that keeps away the nightmares.
A love that transcends realms.
As she delves into the mysteries of The Midnight Read Bookstore, a dormant power awakens within Daphne.
Her mission? Safeguard the legendary bookstore and its mystical secrets.
The path ahead is uncertain. Tensions escalate in the forest surrounding the bookstore as a formidable Shadow Prince grows stronger, trying to break free from his century-long imprisonment.
The shadows are rising.
Enemies are gathering on the horizon.
Daphne must embrace her innate nature and carefully choose her allies. But who can she trust?
Secrets will spill, blood will run.
Prepare to be spellbound as love, betrayal, magic, and sacrifice collide in an epic battle that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
She needed answers, and there was only one place to find them.
Daphne Guardiana's life takes an extraordinary turn when she inherits her Grandmother's fantasy bookstore. Little does she know, she's about to unravel the secrets of her family that will change her life forever.
A centaur who vows to protect her.
A deep voice that keeps away the nightmares.
A love that transcends realms.
As she delves into the mysteries of The Midnight Read Bookstore, a dormant power awakens within Daphne.
Her mission? Safeguard the legendary bookstore and its mystical secrets.
The path ahead is uncertain. Tensions escalate in the forest surrounding the bookstore as a formidable Shadow Prince grows stronger, trying to break free from his century-long imprisonment.
The shadows are rising.
Enemies are gathering on the horizon.
Daphne must embrace her innate nature and carefully choose her allies. But who can she trust?
Secrets will spill, blood will run.
Prepare to be spellbound as love, betrayal, magic, and sacrifice collide in an epic battle that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2024
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 20, 2024
☽☆✨💫✨☆☽
📖𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺•𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆📖
───────✩💫☆💫✩───────
📚🌿𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒🌿📚
✨𝙶𝚄𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙾𝙵 𝙶𝚄𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙽𝚂 𝙱𝚈 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙸 𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚁𝙴𝚁𝙰
✨𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙼𝙸𝙳𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
✨𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝚈𝙰 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙵𝙴𝙱. 𝟷𝟽𝚃𝙷, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
✨𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
✨𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️ || 𝟻
───────✩💫☆💫✩───────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @lanixlaniherrera_fantasyauthor
for my gifted eARC of 𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒!
This was such a wonderful debut Fantasy novel by Lani Herrera! I loved every single second of it!
Lani manages to weave a really captivating story filled with magic, adventure, and romance. The world building was written very well, and it flowed really beautifully with the plot. And my absolute favorite part was the magical bookstore! I loved it so much!
Daphne is a really relatable character & I admired her determination & her journey in this book. I loved her relationship with her friends & that was another one of my favorite parts of reading this!
I was left speechless by the last few chapters & I’m definitely excited for the next book! The plot twist had me shocked and I was definitely not expecting it!
Overall, I definitely recommend! It was action-packed, but not overwhelming and it really wowed me! I think Lani did a really amazing job with this book, and all the elements of it really blended together into something truly wonderful, and a new world to get lost in!
💫✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄..✨💫
★Found Family
★Epic battles
★Magical Bookstores
★Fated Mates
★Centaurs
───────✩💫☆💫✩───────
📖𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺•𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆📖
───────✩💫☆💫✩───────
📚🌿𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒🌿📚
✨𝙶𝚄𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙾𝙵 𝙶𝚄𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙽𝚂 𝙱𝚈 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙸 𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚁𝙴𝚁𝙰
✨𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙼𝙸𝙳𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
✨𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝚈𝙰 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙵𝙴𝙱. 𝟷𝟽𝚃𝙷, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
✨𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
✨𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️ || 𝟻
───────✩💫☆💫✩───────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @lanixlaniherrera_fantasyauthor
for my gifted eARC of 𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒!
This was such a wonderful debut Fantasy novel by Lani Herrera! I loved every single second of it!
Lani manages to weave a really captivating story filled with magic, adventure, and romance. The world building was written very well, and it flowed really beautifully with the plot. And my absolute favorite part was the magical bookstore! I loved it so much!
Daphne is a really relatable character & I admired her determination & her journey in this book. I loved her relationship with her friends & that was another one of my favorite parts of reading this!
I was left speechless by the last few chapters & I’m definitely excited for the next book! The plot twist had me shocked and I was definitely not expecting it!
Overall, I definitely recommend! It was action-packed, but not overwhelming and it really wowed me! I think Lani did a really amazing job with this book, and all the elements of it really blended together into something truly wonderful, and a new world to get lost in!
💫✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄..✨💫
★Found Family
★Epic battles
★Magical Bookstores
★Fated Mates
★Centaurs
───────✩💫☆💫✩───────
February 16, 2024
Great Debut! Magical bookstores, centaurs, fated mates- if this appeals to you then Guardian of Guardians is a must read!
I was very fortunate to receive an early ARC copy of Guardian of Guardians, Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of this story.
I loved seeing the world develop in this story and I must say I finished this book within two days of starting it, the story is very well described and allowed me to gain a full picture of all characters I was able to see the world in my mind as the story was continuing.
I must say Colden broke my heart as I was rooting for him from the start I definitely had a soft spot for that centaur. However, I am loving seeing the relation that will build between Darken & Daphne especially since finding out who he is.
I was very fortunate to receive an early ARC copy of Guardian of Guardians, Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of this story.
I loved seeing the world develop in this story and I must say I finished this book within two days of starting it, the story is very well described and allowed me to gain a full picture of all characters I was able to see the world in my mind as the story was continuing.
I must say Colden broke my heart as I was rooting for him from the start I definitely had a soft spot for that centaur. However, I am loving seeing the relation that will build between Darken & Daphne especially since finding out who he is.
February 19, 2024
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of her ARC team!
CW: death of a family member, some violence
An interesting premise kickstarting a promising series, but hampered by a slightly scrambled structure; I have mixed feelings about this one.
A year after her grandmother’s death, a year after her parents went missing, Daphne Guardiana embraces her inheritance, the Midnight Reads Bookstore. to her surprise, she discovers that far more magic is waiting in the store than she was expecting to find in the pages of her beloved fantasy novels.
Alright, I’m going to break down this book as best I can, but it really was a mixed bag of nuts for me. Let’s start with the plot. A great premise (magical bookstore, ‘surprise you’re an important magical being’, lots of fun magical creatures, etc), but unfortunately a lot of the story got lost along the way. There were several instances of information being referenced before it had actually been revealed, some of which were never actually discussed but just dropped in seemingly at random. There were also several points in the story that just seemed to come out of nowhere—no foreshadowing, no build up, just a 0-60 turnaround and good luck keeping up. Specifically at about the halfway mark, it just got really hectic. It almost felt like there were too many plot points and ideas that all felt the need to shove into this one book in quick succession, and without the writing to bridge the gap, it ended up detracting from what had been an okay story up to that point.
Which brings me to my next point: the writing itself. While a simple, straightforward writing style is by no means a negative in and of itself, I found that the structure for this particular book (especially in terms of dialogue) lacked a lot of the refinement and flow I would have expected. In short, a lot of it came off stilted and immature. The typos and scattered plot I usually chalk up to my copies being advance (and therefore possibly not completely edited) editions, and that’s fine. But this was a noticeably larger issue that took a book marketed for YA down to a middle-grades feel, and not in a positive way.
If you’ve read this far, you might be wondering if I liked anything about this book at all. And the answer is, yes! Despite the issues I’ve mentioned already, I found the story to be genuinely interesting. I wanted to know what was going to happen and how things were going to pan out; I liked the characters, and I would have liked the chance to get to know them in more depth. The bookstore is a delightfully wonderful place, and I wanted to spend more time in it. There were parts of the story that caused some genuine emotion and laughter as I was reading, and I think the book overall has some absolutely amazing bits and pieces that just need a little bit of polishing to truly shine. I am truly excited to see this author grow and develop as a writer because I think she has a lot of talent that will only improve as she continues on.
To be fair, I know for a fact that the author did some more editing and cleaning up of the book between sending out advance copies and the actual release date. It’s entirely possible that a lot of the issues I had have been resolved, but I can only review what I read, not what may have happened. This is definitely a book that has a lot of potential—it’s an interesting idea with some really creative and fun twists that I think could be incredible if it was cleaned up. If you enjoy fantasy stories with tons of magical creatures, incredibly powerful heroines discovering their birthrights, and some genuinely funny moments scattered here and there, this could be a story you want to check out.
CW: death of a family member, some violence
An interesting premise kickstarting a promising series, but hampered by a slightly scrambled structure; I have mixed feelings about this one.
A year after her grandmother’s death, a year after her parents went missing, Daphne Guardiana embraces her inheritance, the Midnight Reads Bookstore. to her surprise, she discovers that far more magic is waiting in the store than she was expecting to find in the pages of her beloved fantasy novels.
Alright, I’m going to break down this book as best I can, but it really was a mixed bag of nuts for me. Let’s start with the plot. A great premise (magical bookstore, ‘surprise you’re an important magical being’, lots of fun magical creatures, etc), but unfortunately a lot of the story got lost along the way. There were several instances of information being referenced before it had actually been revealed, some of which were never actually discussed but just dropped in seemingly at random. There were also several points in the story that just seemed to come out of nowhere—no foreshadowing, no build up, just a 0-60 turnaround and good luck keeping up. Specifically at about the halfway mark, it just got really hectic. It almost felt like there were too many plot points and ideas that all felt the need to shove into this one book in quick succession, and without the writing to bridge the gap, it ended up detracting from what had been an okay story up to that point.
Which brings me to my next point: the writing itself. While a simple, straightforward writing style is by no means a negative in and of itself, I found that the structure for this particular book (especially in terms of dialogue) lacked a lot of the refinement and flow I would have expected. In short, a lot of it came off stilted and immature. The typos and scattered plot I usually chalk up to my copies being advance (and therefore possibly not completely edited) editions, and that’s fine. But this was a noticeably larger issue that took a book marketed for YA down to a middle-grades feel, and not in a positive way.
If you’ve read this far, you might be wondering if I liked anything about this book at all. And the answer is, yes! Despite the issues I’ve mentioned already, I found the story to be genuinely interesting. I wanted to know what was going to happen and how things were going to pan out; I liked the characters, and I would have liked the chance to get to know them in more depth. The bookstore is a delightfully wonderful place, and I wanted to spend more time in it. There were parts of the story that caused some genuine emotion and laughter as I was reading, and I think the book overall has some absolutely amazing bits and pieces that just need a little bit of polishing to truly shine. I am truly excited to see this author grow and develop as a writer because I think she has a lot of talent that will only improve as she continues on.
To be fair, I know for a fact that the author did some more editing and cleaning up of the book between sending out advance copies and the actual release date. It’s entirely possible that a lot of the issues I had have been resolved, but I can only review what I read, not what may have happened. This is definitely a book that has a lot of potential—it’s an interesting idea with some really creative and fun twists that I think could be incredible if it was cleaned up. If you enjoy fantasy stories with tons of magical creatures, incredibly powerful heroines discovering their birthrights, and some genuinely funny moments scattered here and there, this could be a story you want to check out.
February 1, 2024
First of all, thank you, author, for letting me be part of this wonderful story, I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book, and it was everything and more.
Soooo I don't usually write reviews, this is probably my first review here, but I needed to talk about this book even if it's just a little. First of all I'm really happy because thanks to this book now I remember why I used to love fantasy so much when I was younger, it's beautiful how atmospheric a fantasy book can be, while reading this book I couldn't help but feel like I was inside this wonderful world that the author created. This book was everything for me because it had everything, the story, the twists, the magic, EVERYTHING... but the world and the characters were my favorites by a lot. I love everyone in this book (well, not everyone...) and the world omg I wish I could live in there.
In Guardian of Guardians Lani Herrera starts a wonderful story about fate, magic, friendship and so much more, I really love this book and I will be counting the days till the second one (please author, I need it).
Soooo I don't usually write reviews, this is probably my first review here, but I needed to talk about this book even if it's just a little. First of all I'm really happy because thanks to this book now I remember why I used to love fantasy so much when I was younger, it's beautiful how atmospheric a fantasy book can be, while reading this book I couldn't help but feel like I was inside this wonderful world that the author created. This book was everything for me because it had everything, the story, the twists, the magic, EVERYTHING... but the world and the characters were my favorites by a lot. I love everyone in this book (well, not everyone...) and the world omg I wish I could live in there.
In Guardian of Guardians Lani Herrera starts a wonderful story about fate, magic, friendship and so much more, I really love this book and I will be counting the days till the second one (please author, I need it).
February 17, 2024
For me, Guardian of Guardians was one of those books that I had to get a little way into for it to hook me.
In the beginning, Daphne doesn't know magic or the magical/supernatural world is real, so I find it very interesting how quickly she accepted it as normal. I was happy to see her grow a bit throughout the book and become less of a pushover.
I'm not a fan of Colden and wasn't from the start of the book. Something just felt wrong/off with him.
I love Nyx, Javen, and Leo ( I felt like we saw more of Leo than Jet or Pine, but I like them too) and would love to read more about them. Oh, and Echo too 💜
The first 35-40% I was finding it a bit difficult to get drawn in, and I was genuinely concerned about a certain situation.
The last 60-65% of the book is excellent, and I really need to know what happens next and it more than makes up for the slower start and my concern 😅
Thank you so much to the author for my ARC copy, this is my honest review.
In the beginning, Daphne doesn't know magic or the magical/supernatural world is real, so I find it very interesting how quickly she accepted it as normal. I was happy to see her grow a bit throughout the book and become less of a pushover.
I'm not a fan of Colden and wasn't from the start of the book. Something just felt wrong/off with him.
I love Nyx, Javen, and Leo ( I felt like we saw more of Leo than Jet or Pine, but I like them too) and would love to read more about them. Oh, and Echo too 💜
The first 35-40% I was finding it a bit difficult to get drawn in, and I was genuinely concerned about a certain situation.
The last 60-65% of the book is excellent, and I really need to know what happens next and it more than makes up for the slower start and my concern 😅
Thank you so much to the author for my ARC copy, this is my honest review.
February 16, 2024
If you like fantasy, magical creatures and books as a source of magical power, this will be a great book for you.
I liked this book quite a lot. But, to be honest, it left me with too many questions for my liking, so it's four stars instead of five.
Daphne's relationship with her friends and how she took everything happening to her is the strongest part of the book. This "I don't know how to tackle this problem, but I'm determined to learn" attitude is admirable. Everything in this world of magic was new to her and she took everything like it was just another Tuesday.
And, ummm... did I mention a magical bookshop? Every bookish gal's dream, right?
Plot wise, there were some things that made me ask questions, but I hope all of them will be answered in the next part of the series, but I'll still recommend this book!
I liked this book quite a lot. But, to be honest, it left me with too many questions for my liking, so it's four stars instead of five.
Daphne's relationship with her friends and how she took everything happening to her is the strongest part of the book. This "I don't know how to tackle this problem, but I'm determined to learn" attitude is admirable. Everything in this world of magic was new to her and she took everything like it was just another Tuesday.
And, ummm... did I mention a magical bookshop? Every bookish gal's dream, right?
Plot wise, there were some things that made me ask questions, but I hope all of them will be answered in the next part of the series, but I'll still recommend this book!
January 15, 2024
Daphne’s world gets twisted upside down when she discovers the truth of her existence. Lani (author) does an amazing job taking you through the action packed story of her… self-discovery, so to speak. There is love and heartache, there is bloodshed and tears, there is happiness and relief, there is intense moments that keep you turning the pages till you come to a running stop. Book 1: amazing debut. I cannot wait to see what the author unfolds throughout Daphne’s journey.
January 12, 2024
Such a fun book! It’s different from what I would read but it was worth it. What Colden did caught me so off guard!! And the ending girl I need the second book asap!!!!🫶🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
This was an excellent debut YA novel. I loved the pacing and flow, and I loved seeing Daphne’s story unfold!! I can’t wait for book 2! This book was a wonderfully magical ride!
February 19, 2024
Edit: It seems that after making my review here and on Amazon, it was forcibly taken down. Reader beware. This kind of goes to show that there may be an attempt to artificially inflate the numbers beyond a deserved score which is a massive disservice to any potential consumer. I have since then read a bit further to chapter 10 but will likely now cease continuing since it seems the author may just be after 5* reviews which shows a vast disconnect in ethics.
A note to the author: You may want to check yourself before you wreck yourself. It's not cool to remove valid reviews where people voice their concerns and opinions about your work. Do better next time, both in ethics and in work quality. I guess time will tell if she forcibly removes this one as well. One things is for certain I will be keeping an eye on it.
=====================================================================
As of Chapter 5, this is a fairly rough read. It's always exciting to see a debut novel and subsequent works but thus far this leaves a lot to be desired.
I was expecting a bit more characterization and description of the main character in the first chapter but it doesn't come until a bit later that we get a slight idea of what she looks like, and lacks any concrete information such as age, or occupation which is somewhat explained later. The overall flow seems to go back and forth a bit and the continuity between two of the earlier chapters seemed a bit "off".
I've noticed quite a few punctuation errors, and at least in the online version of the novel, sometimes random line breaks in the middle of a sentence. In many situations thus far, there seems to be unnecessary cursing where there could instead be something a bit more eloquently stated.
Without giving too many details away...I wanted to keep going because I thought it could get better but it didn't unfortunately... at least not yet. I understand her friends boyfriend is a nurse practitioner, but they don't seem to recognize something like anesthesia for what it is. It's not typically something used for small injuries, or calming someone. I also understand she drove a Toyota truck, but in explaining the impact she makes a point to mention the vehicle was armored... being a car-guy myself, it's a large and very expensive undertaking to armor a vehicle and doesn't cost a mere "few thousand" dollars. It's upwards to the hundreds of thousands in some cases, and being a girl that works in a restaurant (but also the book store?), and being described as not having a whole lot of extra cash to throw around, it seems unrealistic; even more so because in the book the reason was a bullet hole being in the door. It's also the first time I've heard of the passenger-side door being called a copilot's door.
I think with a little more care, time, research and descriptions given where they're actually appropriate, it would have been a different story as far as how I see it but so far it's been pretty demoralizing to read. It definitely seems like a rushed debut novel, with a lot of missing characterization, scene setup and other basic explanations that doesn't make the reader have to go back and re-read for a sanity check... and as a guy that can sometimes say the odd curse word every now and again it overall felt more like I was following a character that just learned new curse words and had to use it excessively. It feels like less of a recreational read and more like my college days, proof-reading a long paper for people who's writing skills were lacking.
I think I understand now how Dumbledore felt as the black liquid surrounding the Slytherin's Locket horcrux was spooned into his mouth... my mind was Harry saying "one more, sir!" and my body was Dumbledore shaking his head "no", but being forced to endure until I couldn't any longer.
I think those who wrote 5 star reviews are lying, but want to be nice and can't bring themselves to objectively critique the book for what it is.
I'll try to keep reading and stay optimistic. If I do, I may update but I need to prepare myself.
A note to the author: You may want to check yourself before you wreck yourself. It's not cool to remove valid reviews where people voice their concerns and opinions about your work. Do better next time, both in ethics and in work quality. I guess time will tell if she forcibly removes this one as well. One things is for certain I will be keeping an eye on it.
=====================================================================
As of Chapter 5, this is a fairly rough read. It's always exciting to see a debut novel and subsequent works but thus far this leaves a lot to be desired.
I was expecting a bit more characterization and description of the main character in the first chapter but it doesn't come until a bit later that we get a slight idea of what she looks like, and lacks any concrete information such as age, or occupation which is somewhat explained later. The overall flow seems to go back and forth a bit and the continuity between two of the earlier chapters seemed a bit "off".
I've noticed quite a few punctuation errors, and at least in the online version of the novel, sometimes random line breaks in the middle of a sentence. In many situations thus far, there seems to be unnecessary cursing where there could instead be something a bit more eloquently stated.
Without giving too many details away...I wanted to keep going because I thought it could get better but it didn't unfortunately... at least not yet. I understand her friends boyfriend is a nurse practitioner, but they don't seem to recognize something like anesthesia for what it is. It's not typically something used for small injuries, or calming someone. I also understand she drove a Toyota truck, but in explaining the impact she makes a point to mention the vehicle was armored... being a car-guy myself, it's a large and very expensive undertaking to armor a vehicle and doesn't cost a mere "few thousand" dollars. It's upwards to the hundreds of thousands in some cases, and being a girl that works in a restaurant (but also the book store?), and being described as not having a whole lot of extra cash to throw around, it seems unrealistic; even more so because in the book the reason was a bullet hole being in the door. It's also the first time I've heard of the passenger-side door being called a copilot's door.
I think with a little more care, time, research and descriptions given where they're actually appropriate, it would have been a different story as far as how I see it but so far it's been pretty demoralizing to read. It definitely seems like a rushed debut novel, with a lot of missing characterization, scene setup and other basic explanations that doesn't make the reader have to go back and re-read for a sanity check... and as a guy that can sometimes say the odd curse word every now and again it overall felt more like I was following a character that just learned new curse words and had to use it excessively. It feels like less of a recreational read and more like my college days, proof-reading a long paper for people who's writing skills were lacking.
I think I understand now how Dumbledore felt as the black liquid surrounding the Slytherin's Locket horcrux was spooned into his mouth... my mind was Harry saying "one more, sir!" and my body was Dumbledore shaking his head "no", but being forced to endure until I couldn't any longer.
I think those who wrote 5 star reviews are lying, but want to be nice and can't bring themselves to objectively critique the book for what it is.
I'll try to keep reading and stay optimistic. If I do, I may update but I need to prepare myself.
February 19, 2024
I came across this book while looking through new authors and thought I would give it a fair read. I currently made it to chapter 9 and honestly is was a hard one. A lot of the time I found myself going back and reading 2 pages before to see what was even going on or what was the setting. A lot of continuity issue when reading with asking the question of what day is it in relations what just happened, who is that, when did we get there, and how did she get that. There is also grammatical errors and whole paragraph copied in chapter 7 page 4:
"The scream rings out again, and now I am sure it isn't a bird. Someone is up there. I scramble down the porch's stairs and dart towards the base of the tree. I squint up to the darkness that envelops the tree's branches.
"Hello?!" I yell. "Who's there?!"
The scream rings out again, and now I am sure it isn't a bird. Someone is up there. I scramble down the porch's stairs and dart towards the base of the tree. I squint up to the darkness that envelops the tree's branches.
"Hello?!" I yell. "Who's there?!"" I was not sure if it was intended or missed during editing but kind of broke the "immersion". Scene description were few and few between but once I got to chapter 7-8, that's when I feel like the author started to describe the scene but still confusing. There was a lacklustre of character description until you reach chapter 8.
Currently in the story I feel a disconnect with wanted to care about any named character and wanting to continue the to read feels more of a chore. My current rating is a 1 star due a story feeling like it was written by a middle school student thinking that they know adult things. it has the potential to be better.
My goal is the finish the book. Currently I do not have high hopes of it getting better but I will provide an update once completed.
"The scream rings out again, and now I am sure it isn't a bird. Someone is up there. I scramble down the porch's stairs and dart towards the base of the tree. I squint up to the darkness that envelops the tree's branches.
"Hello?!" I yell. "Who's there?!"
The scream rings out again, and now I am sure it isn't a bird. Someone is up there. I scramble down the porch's stairs and dart towards the base of the tree. I squint up to the darkness that envelops the tree's branches.
"Hello?!" I yell. "Who's there?!"" I was not sure if it was intended or missed during editing but kind of broke the "immersion". Scene description were few and few between but once I got to chapter 7-8, that's when I feel like the author started to describe the scene but still confusing. There was a lacklustre of character description until you reach chapter 8.
Currently in the story I feel a disconnect with wanted to care about any named character and wanting to continue the to read feels more of a chore. My current rating is a 1 star due a story feeling like it was written by a middle school student thinking that they know adult things. it has the potential to be better.
My goal is the finish the book. Currently I do not have high hopes of it getting better but I will provide an update once completed.
February 13, 2024
💙💙Book Review💙💙
By @lanixlaniherrera_fantasyauthor
This book was awesome. I am an arc reader and proud of it. Obviously I am a reader and love books and bookstores which is the main scene for this book! Some characters are figurines and come to life! But why!??? Eeeeek! There is love and battle and so much more. I loved it #worththeread
Guardian of Guardians: The Midnight Read Series Book 1 ⚔️
She needed answers, and there was only one place to find them.
Daphne Guardiana’s life takes an extraordinary turn when she inherits her Grandmother’s fantasy bookstore. Little does she know, she’s about to unravel the secrets of her family that will change her life forever.
A centaur who vows to protect her.
A deep voice that keeps away the nightmares.
A love that transcends realms.
As she delves into the mysteries of The Midnight Read Bookstore, a dormant power awakens within Daphne.
Her mission? Safeguard the legendary bookstore and its mystical secrets.
#guardianofguardianslaniherrera #newfantasybooks #fantasyvillain #morallygreycharacters
#YAromance #FantasyLove #MagicalRomance #BookishLove #RomanticFantasy #YoungLove #EnchantingRomance #LoveStory #guardianofguardianslaniherrera #BookWormRomance #FictionalLove
By @lanixlaniherrera_fantasyauthor
This book was awesome. I am an arc reader and proud of it. Obviously I am a reader and love books and bookstores which is the main scene for this book! Some characters are figurines and come to life! But why!??? Eeeeek! There is love and battle and so much more. I loved it #worththeread
Guardian of Guardians: The Midnight Read Series Book 1 ⚔️
She needed answers, and there was only one place to find them.
Daphne Guardiana’s life takes an extraordinary turn when she inherits her Grandmother’s fantasy bookstore. Little does she know, she’s about to unravel the secrets of her family that will change her life forever.
A centaur who vows to protect her.
A deep voice that keeps away the nightmares.
A love that transcends realms.
As she delves into the mysteries of The Midnight Read Bookstore, a dormant power awakens within Daphne.
Her mission? Safeguard the legendary bookstore and its mystical secrets.
#guardianofguardianslaniherrera #newfantasybooks #fantasyvillain #morallygreycharacters
#YAromance #FantasyLove #MagicalRomance #BookishLove #RomanticFantasy #YoungLove #EnchantingRomance #LoveStory #guardianofguardianslaniherrera #BookWormRomance #FictionalLove
December 6, 2023
This book was so amazing! It’s a lovely soft read compared to the fast-paced action in the books I’m currently reading/have finished (Iron Flame, Zodiac Academy, Hunting Adaline). I loved the characters and the world building and the last few chapters had me staying up late to finish. A definite favorite of the books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to read more of her books to come.
February 17, 2024
This is a wonderful YA fantasy story! Lani tells us the story of Daphne and how her ordinary life suddenly is ordinary no longer. Magic, centaurs, weird winged creatures, and more are now a part of her everyday life.
This is the first part of the series and Lani's debut novel. It's a great start and I can't wait to see how the story continues!
This is the first part of the series and Lani's debut novel. It's a great start and I can't wait to see how the story continues!
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