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Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles #1-3
Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles Omnibus
To help gargoyles in peril, Mika will risk everything
Brimming with epic magic and lovable gargoyles, the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles will delight fantasy fans young and old. Find out for yourself why readers can’t get enough of this highly original world and all three exciting, action-packed adventures.
MAGIC of the GARGOYLES (Book 1)
Mika Stillwater is a midlevel earth elemental with ambitions of becoming a quartz artisan, and her hard work is starting to get noticed. But when a panicked baby gargoyle bursts into her studio, insisting Mika is the only person she’ll trust with her desperate mission, Mika’s carefully constructed five-year plan is shattered.
Swept into the gritty criminal underworld of Terra Haven, Mika jeopardizes everything she’s work so hard for as she attempts to save the baby gargoyle from the machinations of a monster—and to stay alive…
CURSE of the GARGOYLES (Book 2)
Mika Stillwater isn’t known for her skills with combat magic. As a gargoyle healer, she spends her days mending broken appendages and curing illnesses in the living-quartz bodies of Terra Haven’s gargoyles. But when a squad of the city’s elite Federal Pentagon Defense warriors requests her assistance in freeing a gargoyle ensnared in a vicious invention, Mika jumps into the fray.
No one could have predicted that her involvement would ignite a chain reaction set to destroy the city, the world, and magic itself.
SECRET of the GARGOYLES (Book 3)
In her brief career as a gargoyle healer, Mika Stillwater has faced some daunting challenges, but none have stumped her—until now. A strange sickness infects a handful of gargoyles in Terra Haven, rendering them comatose and paralyzed. Worse, the cure she seeks is shrouded in the gargoyles’ mysterious culture and the secret they guard with their lives.
Gaining the gargoyles’ trust is only the first step. To save the sick gargoyles, Mika must embark on a perilous mission into the heart of deadly wild magic to a place no human has ever survived...
Scroll up and grab the complete spellbinding trilogy today!
“Mika and her gargoyles remind me of how I felt reading Anne McCaffrey’s Harper Hall trilogy for the first time.” (One Book Two ★★★★★)
Brimming with epic magic and lovable gargoyles, the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles will delight fantasy fans young and old. Find out for yourself why readers can’t get enough of this highly original world and all three exciting, action-packed adventures.
MAGIC of the GARGOYLES (Book 1)
Mika Stillwater is a midlevel earth elemental with ambitions of becoming a quartz artisan, and her hard work is starting to get noticed. But when a panicked baby gargoyle bursts into her studio, insisting Mika is the only person she’ll trust with her desperate mission, Mika’s carefully constructed five-year plan is shattered.
Swept into the gritty criminal underworld of Terra Haven, Mika jeopardizes everything she’s work so hard for as she attempts to save the baby gargoyle from the machinations of a monster—and to stay alive…
CURSE of the GARGOYLES (Book 2)
Mika Stillwater isn’t known for her skills with combat magic. As a gargoyle healer, she spends her days mending broken appendages and curing illnesses in the living-quartz bodies of Terra Haven’s gargoyles. But when a squad of the city’s elite Federal Pentagon Defense warriors requests her assistance in freeing a gargoyle ensnared in a vicious invention, Mika jumps into the fray.
No one could have predicted that her involvement would ignite a chain reaction set to destroy the city, the world, and magic itself.
SECRET of the GARGOYLES (Book 3)
In her brief career as a gargoyle healer, Mika Stillwater has faced some daunting challenges, but none have stumped her—until now. A strange sickness infects a handful of gargoyles in Terra Haven, rendering them comatose and paralyzed. Worse, the cure she seeks is shrouded in the gargoyles’ mysterious culture and the secret they guard with their lives.
Gaining the gargoyles’ trust is only the first step. To save the sick gargoyles, Mika must embark on a perilous mission into the heart of deadly wild magic to a place no human has ever survived...
Scroll up and grab the complete spellbinding trilogy today!
“Mika and her gargoyles remind me of how I felt reading Anne McCaffrey’s Harper Hall trilogy for the first time.” (One Book Two ★★★★★)
481 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2016
551 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Chastain
33 books291 followersREBECCA CHASTAIN is a feminist, animal advocate, and nature devotee. She believes empathy is a hero’s trait and love is a motive, an inside job, and a transformative energy that shapes each person’s world. She is the USA Today bestselling author of the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles series, the Terra Haven Chronicles series that begins with Deadlines & Dryads, and the Madison Fox urban fantasy series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
November 13, 2021
$0.99 Kindle and Kobo sale, Nov. 13, 2021.
September 27, 2016
I absolutely love the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, I've read the entire series and the books just got better and better with each new instalment. The series ends perfectly but I really hope that Rebecca Chastain decides to revisit these characters (or just the world!) again in the future.
Here is a copy my review of book 1, Magic of the Gargoyles, to give you an idea what to expect from the series. I'm not including my reviews for the other books because I don't want to give anyone spoilers!
All earth elemental Mika has ever dreamed of is opening her own store where she can sell her magical creations, she has been saving for months and almost has enough to put down a deposit on a shop in an ideal location, all she needs to do is complete her latest order in time and her dreams will finally come true. Everything changes when a young gargoyle hatchling turns up at Mika's apartment begging for help. The gargoyle's siblings have all been kidnapped and their lives are in great danger as an unscrupulous magician is siphoning off their life forces to increase his magical abilities. Mika knows that she can't leave the gargoyles to be ruthlessly tortured by a monster but going up against such a powerful enemy will put a target on her back and could end up costing her everything.
Most novellas I read tend to be part of a larger ongoing series where I'm already familiar with the world and the characters so I'm instantly invested in the story and it's very easy to dive into them. I wasn't too sure how Rebecca Chastain was going to manage to create a whole new world, introduce an entirely new set of characters and create an engaging story in less than 100 pages but after loving all of her other novels I knew I had to give Magic of the Gargoyles a try. Consider me incredibly impressed because she did a fantastic job of all of those things and I enjoyed every minute of this story.
Mika is a great main character, she isn't the strongest magic user but she has a lot of heart and she puts herself at risk to protect the gargoyles because they aren't old enough to fight for themselves. You can't fault her bravery and I loved seeing her figure out more about her own skills along the way. I always complain about the lack of female friendships in some stories so I also really enjoyed the bond between Mika and her best friend Kylie, the two support each other 100% and Kylie immediately comes to Mika's aid when she is in trouble. What made this story for me was the gargoyles though, they were utterly adorable and each of the siblings had different quirks and characteristics that made them stand out as individuals. I'd quite like a family of baby gargoyles to move into my house actually, they would make life interesting for sure!
Magic of the Gargoyles is a fantastic little novella full of action and adventure and a very well built world considering how short it is. There is plenty of room for the story to be expanded upon and I'd love to read about more of Mika's adventures so I was very excited to discover that Rebecca Chastain is already at work on another 2 stories in this world. I'll certainly be buying any new instalments on release day and I can't wait to spend more time with Mika and the gargoyles!
Here is a copy my review of book 1, Magic of the Gargoyles, to give you an idea what to expect from the series. I'm not including my reviews for the other books because I don't want to give anyone spoilers!
All earth elemental Mika has ever dreamed of is opening her own store where she can sell her magical creations, she has been saving for months and almost has enough to put down a deposit on a shop in an ideal location, all she needs to do is complete her latest order in time and her dreams will finally come true. Everything changes when a young gargoyle hatchling turns up at Mika's apartment begging for help. The gargoyle's siblings have all been kidnapped and their lives are in great danger as an unscrupulous magician is siphoning off their life forces to increase his magical abilities. Mika knows that she can't leave the gargoyles to be ruthlessly tortured by a monster but going up against such a powerful enemy will put a target on her back and could end up costing her everything.
Most novellas I read tend to be part of a larger ongoing series where I'm already familiar with the world and the characters so I'm instantly invested in the story and it's very easy to dive into them. I wasn't too sure how Rebecca Chastain was going to manage to create a whole new world, introduce an entirely new set of characters and create an engaging story in less than 100 pages but after loving all of her other novels I knew I had to give Magic of the Gargoyles a try. Consider me incredibly impressed because she did a fantastic job of all of those things and I enjoyed every minute of this story.
Mika is a great main character, she isn't the strongest magic user but she has a lot of heart and she puts herself at risk to protect the gargoyles because they aren't old enough to fight for themselves. You can't fault her bravery and I loved seeing her figure out more about her own skills along the way. I always complain about the lack of female friendships in some stories so I also really enjoyed the bond between Mika and her best friend Kylie, the two support each other 100% and Kylie immediately comes to Mika's aid when she is in trouble. What made this story for me was the gargoyles though, they were utterly adorable and each of the siblings had different quirks and characteristics that made them stand out as individuals. I'd quite like a family of baby gargoyles to move into my house actually, they would make life interesting for sure!
Magic of the Gargoyles is a fantastic little novella full of action and adventure and a very well built world considering how short it is. There is plenty of room for the story to be expanded upon and I'd love to read about more of Mika's adventures so I was very excited to discover that Rebecca Chastain is already at work on another 2 stories in this world. I'll certainly be buying any new instalments on release day and I can't wait to spend more time with Mika and the gargoyles!
August 2, 2017
3* But could have been more.
Please keep in mind that this is purely my opinion.
Please also note that the page counts came directly from book descriptions. If the math does not make sense – blame the publisher.
This series is a prime example of how 3 books with a total page count of 409, could lose 100 pages, and with some serious revision turned in to interesting, exiting , decent- sized book ( of course , than it would not be a series or have any perks associated with multiple books)
So here is a breakdown.
3* Book 1 - Magic of the Gargoyles (page count – 96)
It was cute. The plot was promising; it moved well, but, since I have very limited knowledge of mineralogy and would not know my barite or pyrite from calcite, frequent intertwining of magic elements and mineral references slowed the pace down for me. But then, who can resist adorable baby gargoyles.
2.5* Book 2 - Curse of the Gargoyles (page count – 150)
This instalment suffers dreadfully from middle child syndrome. Limited plot with one continuous action sequent that is oooooooooooverstreeeeeeeetched through 80% of the book with pages and pages and pages of overcomplicated descriptions of magic – 2 pages in to that sequent I was bored out of my scull, 5 pages in to it my brain went numb and I started flipping and skipping. While actions of participants appear to be hectic, the actual story bogged down. This entire book should be heavily culled into just a few chapters to keep the momentum of the story going. As it is - it is nothing but an over-padded filler.
3* Book 3 - Secret of the Gargoyles (page count – 196)
Significantly better than Book 2. The storyline is more dynamic, keeps moving and moves better There are still areas that could be whittled down and streamlined to keep the pace and tension up but a definite improvement.
Please keep in mind that this is purely my opinion.
Please also note that the page counts came directly from book descriptions. If the math does not make sense – blame the publisher.
This series is a prime example of how 3 books with a total page count of 409, could lose 100 pages, and with some serious revision turned in to interesting, exiting , decent- sized book ( of course , than it would not be a series or have any perks associated with multiple books)
So here is a breakdown.
3* Book 1 - Magic of the Gargoyles (page count – 96)
It was cute. The plot was promising; it moved well, but, since I have very limited knowledge of mineralogy and would not know my barite or pyrite from calcite, frequent intertwining of magic elements and mineral references slowed the pace down for me. But then, who can resist adorable baby gargoyles.
2.5* Book 2 - Curse of the Gargoyles (page count – 150)
This instalment suffers dreadfully from middle child syndrome. Limited plot with one continuous action sequent that is oooooooooooverstreeeeeeeetched through 80% of the book with pages and pages and pages of overcomplicated descriptions of magic – 2 pages in to that sequent I was bored out of my scull, 5 pages in to it my brain went numb and I started flipping and skipping. While actions of participants appear to be hectic, the actual story bogged down. This entire book should be heavily culled into just a few chapters to keep the momentum of the story going. As it is - it is nothing but an over-padded filler.
3* Book 3 - Secret of the Gargoyles (page count – 196)
Significantly better than Book 2. The storyline is more dynamic, keeps moving and moves better There are still areas that could be whittled down and streamlined to keep the pace and tension up but a definite improvement.
August 2, 2016
Man are you lucky to get this as one set I had to wait to get
them all and god how I loved this series.
Book 1
This book is a very unique story. This is a new twist on the
world of magic and Gargoyles. This would does not have
electric devises it all runs on magic. Mika is not as powerful
as most of residents of Terra Have, but she is unique all the
same she wants to be a artisan with Quartz. She can
manipulate it into shapes most cannot. When a baby
Gargoyle crashes into her life she soon finds herself running
out to help them. And that is when she discovers she cannot
only manipulate quartz but use this talent to heal the baby
gargoyles. But as she fights to save them, she is thrown into
a world of danger that very well may cost her greatly, and
possibly her life. There are some really weird creatures in this
book; I do not know where Rebecca has come up with
them. And cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
God I have to get on to book two now.
Book 2
I feel in love with Mika’s story in the book one and I still am
with this book. She is a quirky young woman and I love her
constant companion Oliver. I think he loves her like a mom.
Well she did save his life in book one. In this book she is
called to help the squad of the city’s elite Federal
Pentagon Defense warriors. She takes of running. As it can
only mean a gargoyle must need her help. But the events
that happen after she arrives will have you riveted till the
bitter end. And if you are anything like me have tears in your
eyes for what the crazy woman did to the poor gargoyle.
Now this story seems to hint at future relationships forming
and I have to say I have been secretly hoping Mika would
end up with Marcus to become a couple By the end of book
2. Now I am on to read Book 3.
Book 3
It was the perfect conclusion to Mika and Marcus well and
of course Oliver’s Tale. But be prepared for this book. It is
full of excitement, new creatures, some sadness,
and hopefully love. But do have the tissues hand for the
sadness and the happy tears. Rebecca should be called a
thief as she stole my attention and kept me till I finished the
book and then left me wanting more. She is a truly amazing
writer. She has a special note at the end of her book for us. .
In this book Mika may have finally figured out how to save
the Gargoyles that have gone dormant. When she meets
the mate of one of the dormant Gargoyles, she must first
learn her trust. As the secret she shares is a big one. And
cannot be trusted to just anyone. But she is going to need
help. When she seeks out the FPD all she finds is Marcus at
home. And he is really mad at her, and she does not know
why. Seems he had feeling for her and he was waiting. But
can she convince him to take her to the one place, no one
should ever attempt to go. Can she save the gargoyles
before their time runs out?
Lured
Book 3.5
This is a tidbit that was not included in book 3.
This was fun to read. Do not read this part if you have
not read the set yet.
In order to save the sick Gargoyles, Mika needed a way to
get them there. Since all the problems on the mountain, the
train does not go up the side of the mountain anymore. So
they had to rent a sled from this guy Gus and his Cerberui.
He is a nasty little man and does not take them all the way up
but effuses to give the money back unless they make it
back down. And boy is he in for a surprise when Marcus
and Mika come to find him for their refund so to speak man
I loved this part. There is more to it when on the way home
they get attached and Mika has a fight for her life to save
the man she loves. Let’s just hope she can do it.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you
enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book,
please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it
when you do; they value your opinions too.
them all and god how I loved this series.
Book 1
This book is a very unique story. This is a new twist on the
world of magic and Gargoyles. This would does not have
electric devises it all runs on magic. Mika is not as powerful
as most of residents of Terra Have, but she is unique all the
same she wants to be a artisan with Quartz. She can
manipulate it into shapes most cannot. When a baby
Gargoyle crashes into her life she soon finds herself running
out to help them. And that is when she discovers she cannot
only manipulate quartz but use this talent to heal the baby
gargoyles. But as she fights to save them, she is thrown into
a world of danger that very well may cost her greatly, and
possibly her life. There are some really weird creatures in this
book; I do not know where Rebecca has come up with
them. And cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
God I have to get on to book two now.
Book 2
I feel in love with Mika’s story in the book one and I still am
with this book. She is a quirky young woman and I love her
constant companion Oliver. I think he loves her like a mom.
Well she did save his life in book one. In this book she is
called to help the squad of the city’s elite Federal
Pentagon Defense warriors. She takes of running. As it can
only mean a gargoyle must need her help. But the events
that happen after she arrives will have you riveted till the
bitter end. And if you are anything like me have tears in your
eyes for what the crazy woman did to the poor gargoyle.
Now this story seems to hint at future relationships forming
and I have to say I have been secretly hoping Mika would
end up with Marcus to become a couple By the end of book
2. Now I am on to read Book 3.
Book 3
It was the perfect conclusion to Mika and Marcus well and
of course Oliver’s Tale. But be prepared for this book. It is
full of excitement, new creatures, some sadness,
and hopefully love. But do have the tissues hand for the
sadness and the happy tears. Rebecca should be called a
thief as she stole my attention and kept me till I finished the
book and then left me wanting more. She is a truly amazing
writer. She has a special note at the end of her book for us. .
In this book Mika may have finally figured out how to save
the Gargoyles that have gone dormant. When she meets
the mate of one of the dormant Gargoyles, she must first
learn her trust. As the secret she shares is a big one. And
cannot be trusted to just anyone. But she is going to need
help. When she seeks out the FPD all she finds is Marcus at
home. And he is really mad at her, and she does not know
why. Seems he had feeling for her and he was waiting. But
can she convince him to take her to the one place, no one
should ever attempt to go. Can she save the gargoyles
before their time runs out?
Lured
Book 3.5
This is a tidbit that was not included in book 3.
This was fun to read. Do not read this part if you have
not read the set yet.
In order to save the sick Gargoyles, Mika needed a way to
get them there. Since all the problems on the mountain, the
train does not go up the side of the mountain anymore. So
they had to rent a sled from this guy Gus and his Cerberui.
He is a nasty little man and does not take them all the way up
but effuses to give the money back unless they make it
back down. And boy is he in for a surprise when Marcus
and Mika come to find him for their refund so to speak man
I loved this part. There is more to it when on the way home
they get attached and Mika has a fight for her life to save
the man she loves. Let’s just hope she can do it.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you
enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book,
please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it
when you do; they value your opinions too.
April 27, 2020
Une lecture légère et amusante (un peu répétitive sur le thème : je ne suis pas la super héroïne que vous croyez mais oui je vais résoudre la crise à moi toute seule - ou presque ...)
Les gargouilles sont très sympas, la copine journaliste je me même de tout, l'équipe de super flics super forts dans un élément de magie (air feu terre eau) ; l'utilisation de la minéralogie (j'adore) et la romance sous tendue avec le beau Marcus (très chaste, ouf) et enfin une jeune héroïne, Mika, qui se cherche encore, protectrice des gargouilles en chef !
Lorsque j'étais ado, j'aurais adoré la série (le lien gargouille humain m'a fait penser aux premiers dragons de Pern)
Vieux grincheux, il me manque un arrière fond plus solide sur ce monde de Terra Haven que les quelques indices semés ici et là ... et je reste persuadé que les trois novellas, retravaillées, auraient constitué un excellent livre de fantasy tout public
Les gargouilles sont très sympas, la copine journaliste je me même de tout, l'équipe de super flics super forts dans un élément de magie (air feu terre eau) ; l'utilisation de la minéralogie (j'adore) et la romance sous tendue avec le beau Marcus (très chaste, ouf) et enfin une jeune héroïne, Mika, qui se cherche encore, protectrice des gargouilles en chef !
Lorsque j'étais ado, j'aurais adoré la série (le lien gargouille humain m'a fait penser aux premiers dragons de Pern)
Vieux grincheux, il me manque un arrière fond plus solide sur ce monde de Terra Haven que les quelques indices semés ici et là ... et je reste persuadé que les trois novellas, retravaillées, auraient constitué un excellent livre de fantasy tout public
March 21, 2021
Opus
Original stories about Gargoyles. Elements and their Healer Guardian. I am interested in a prequel about the elements, Terra Haven and the Gargoyles.
Original stories about Gargoyles. Elements and their Healer Guardian. I am interested in a prequel about the elements, Terra Haven and the Gargoyles.
Read
March 1, 2021Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles Omnibus is available in ebook and print. Pick up your copy today!
SERIES EXTRAS
Join my mailing list and receive Lured, a bonus novella featuring Mika and Oliver, for free.
Then check out the Terra Haven Novels Behind the Scenes page for:
* "The Once-in-a-Lifetime Question" a short story featuring Mika and her best friend, Kylie.
* A guide to gargoyle quartz colors
AVAILABLE FORMATS
Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles is available in ebook and print. (The print edition includes the bonus novella, Lured.)
For signed copies, email rebecca@rebeccachastain.com.
SERIES EXTRAS
Join my mailing list and receive Lured, a bonus novella featuring Mika and Oliver, for free. Then check out the Terra Haven Novels Behind the Scenes page for:
* "The Once-in-a-Lifetime Question" a short story featuring Mika and her best friend, Kylie.
* A guide to gargoyle quartz colors
AVAILABLE FORMATS
Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles is available in ebook and print. (The print edition includes the bonus novella, Lured.)
For signed copies, email rebecca@rebeccachastain.com.
February 18, 2018
I'm a bit surprised that this doesn't come up in Young Adult shelves here on Goodreads or at Amazon. The love interest is chaste and it has a single straight line plot. When thinking of my review, my concept was it's a fun easy read young adult story. And, it is.
The concept of magic in this world adds aspects I've not seen elsewhere and it fits believably with the story. The author has a very clear picture of how the elemental magic works and relays it, every now and again with a tad more detail than I need but not so heavily as to throw off the story.
I'd been on a run of dystopian with torture where even though the hero may win, the world and many in it are bleak. This was the soothing break I needed. The villains are downright nasty, but the world and teams-for-good more than balance that. I'll move on to try the other series by this author.
The concept of magic in this world adds aspects I've not seen elsewhere and it fits believably with the story. The author has a very clear picture of how the elemental magic works and relays it, every now and again with a tad more detail than I need but not so heavily as to throw off the story.
I'd been on a run of dystopian with torture where even though the hero may win, the world and many in it are bleak. This was the soothing break I needed. The villains are downright nasty, but the world and teams-for-good more than balance that. I'll move on to try the other series by this author.
February 6, 2021
Fantasy adventure
I enjoy these books, and look forward to reading more by the author! Fun characters. Interesting world building, magic, elements, gargoyles, guardians, quests, healing, action and lots of adventure.
I enjoy these books, and look forward to reading more by the author! Fun characters. Interesting world building, magic, elements, gargoyles, guardians, quests, healing, action and lots of adventure.
February 13, 2021
Liked
I Liked these books. because it was very interesting and different from what I've read before. Thank you . .
I Liked these books. because it was very interesting and different from what I've read before. Thank you . .
February 27, 2021
It was an interesting concept. It really pulls you in. Wish there was more.
January 20, 2021
I have all the novellas in this series, but also purchased the omnibus while on sale. I really liked Mika, her abilities, how she helps the gargoyles. To me the science/magic/elements make sense. I know not everyone will like these, but these short stories are some of my favorites. Will re-read for years to come. :).
Want to read
June 9, 201999p on Amazon 9th June 2019
July 18, 2019
This trilogy about a world/universe where magic is real and common place has a nice spin on the under-powered witch becoming a hero. Paranormal action/adventure with some mystery thrown in. The gargolyes really make this work, Oliver one of the best sidekicks in fiction. There is a slow burn romance subplot that is barely there in volume 1, picks up some energy in volume 2 and ends with a solid HFN at the end of volume 3.
All three volumes are solid 4-star reads. I found the extensive explanations of the physics of magic, dragged a bit. Rather like scifi where too much page time is given to how faster-than-light-speed propulsion works.
All three volumes are solid 4-star reads. I found the extensive explanations of the physics of magic, dragged a bit. Rather like scifi where too much page time is given to how faster-than-light-speed propulsion works.
August 3, 2017
Reviews of The Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, in order:
Magic of the Gargoyles ~
The heroine of Magic of the Gargoyles, Mika, is trying to hone her skills in quartz but right in the middle of her first job, she has a baby gargoyle at her door, frantic and scared. Unsure about what is going on, Mika follows the baby into a really bad part of town only to discover powerful elementals abusing their gifts. Upon completion of her current mission, the baby gargoyle indicates that rest of of her nest has also been kidnapped and will be sold to the highest, and meanest, bidders. Mika has no choice but to intervene and hope for the best...
The location of the story is pretty ambiguous - it could almost be anywhere. This allows the reader to take what descriptions are given and build their own version of the world Rebecca Chastain has created. Mika is a compassionate soul. She is working hard to complete a job that should catapult her quartz creations to the top of everyone's list of supplier. When a gargoyle in need asks for her help, she stops her current task to come to another baby's aid. Then Mika continues to push aside this monumental career maker or breaker to help rescue the remaining babies.
Magic of the Gargoyles is a such a fantastic book. The plot is unique and exciting. The story line packs such a punch that you can't help but be drawn into and fully engaged in the story. The emotional content is in regards to the plight of the baby gargoyles was palpable. Mika's emotions transfer to the reader.
The author did a wonderful job developing the story in the short urban fantasy novella. I'm looking forward to continuing with the series with book 2, Curse of the Gargoyles.
Curse of the Gargoyles ~
Mika Stillwater is a quartz artisan from Terra Haven. As established in book 1, Mika is also a gargoyle healer and guardian. Mika is summoned to Focal Park via a captured message by Marcus Velasquez, a fire elemental with the Federal Pentagon Defense squad (FPD). When she arrives to see a dormant gargoyle caught in a horrible trap, Mika joins the FPD in an effort to set it free. A citizen had attempted to replicate the magical enhancement of the gargoyles for her own greedy purposes. She used paralyzed/comatose gargoyles to do her bidding, as they are unable to fight back. Unfortunately, the methods that have to be used to save the gargoyle threaten to destroy everyone and everything around Terra Haven.
Terra Haven, the location of the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, is pretty ambiguous; it could be anywhere. This allows the reader to take the well-written descriptions and build their own version of the world Rebecca Chastain has created. Mika is a compassionate soul and we continually learn more about the depth of her compassion. She's still has self-esteem issues and tries to compare herself to the FPD but what she does is different but just as important.
Curse of the Gargoyles is a fantastic book. The plot is unique and exciting. The story line packs such a punch that you can't help but be drawn into and fully engaged in the story. The emotional content is in regards to the plight of the trapped gargoyles was palpable. Mika's emotions transfer to the reader. I also enjoyed the subtle dynamics between Marcus and Mika. There is chemistry between them but it doesn't overshadow the story or the importance of the task at hand.
This is a fun urban fantasy that is fast paced and full of action and crackling with tension and uncertainty. The author did a wonderful job continuing the character and world development in Curse of the Gargoyles. I enjoyed the book so much that I read it in one day and immediately purchased Book 3 from Amazon when I was finished.
I voluntarily reviewed an author provided copy of this book.
Secret of the Gargoyles ~
Secret of the Gargoyles takes place approximately 3 months after book 2, Curse of the Gargoyles.
There are still comatose gargoyles throughout Terra Haven and even after three months of searching for answers, Mika is not any closer to saving the poor creatures. One of the gargoyles is the marmot she helped save from a null in book 2. After several weeks of being spied on by Celeste, a gargoyle from book 1, Magic of the Gargoyles, she finally approaches Mika with the Secret of the Gargoyles.
The fate of the comatose gargoyles has now been tenderly placed in Mika's hands. Knowing how to save them is only the first step. The next step is finding the location of the cure since it is veiled in magic for protection of all gargoyles. This requires trekking into an area that no human can survive and battling with the forces of wild magic that have claimed the land. Asking the Federal Pentagon Defense squad (FPD) is the next logical step in Mika's plan, only most of them are unavailable. She does manage to snag Marcus Velasquez, the guy she has a crush on, to go with her, Celeste, and Oliver, although he's not happy. This mission is wrought with danger and he can't sit idly by and let her go alone.
Terra Haven, the location of the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, is pretty ambiguous; it could be anywhere. This allows the reader to take the well-written descriptions and build their own version of the world Rebecca Chastain has created. Mika is a compassionate soul and we continually learn more about the depth of her compassion. We also see a part of her in book 3 that is quite different from the Mika of books 1 and 2. She learns the power and strength behind her gargoyle guardian abilities and what giving into them could mean. Is she strong enough to resist or not as she's pushed into a position that will make or break her? Marcus is such a patient and kind guy and I love his interactions with Mika. There is chemistry galore between them and love the subtle dynamics between them. Mika, however, has been so focused on the comatose gargoyles that she allowed herself to pull away from him and others.
Secret of the Gargoyles is a fantastic book. The plot of the story, the entire series actually, is unique and exciting. The story line packs such a punch that you can't help but be drawn into and fully engaged in the story. The emotional content in regards to the plight of the trapped gargoyles and Mika's passion to save them was realistic and Mika's emotions transfer to the reader.
This is a fun urban fantasy book that is fast paced and full of action and crackling with tension and uncertainty. The author did a wonderful job continuing the character and world development in Secret of the Gargoyles. I enjoyed the book and the series very much and hope to see the author write in this world a lot more. There are so many stories that still need to be told about Mika, Marcus, and Oliver.
This book is a verified Amazon purchase.
Magic of the Gargoyles ~
The heroine of Magic of the Gargoyles, Mika, is trying to hone her skills in quartz but right in the middle of her first job, she has a baby gargoyle at her door, frantic and scared. Unsure about what is going on, Mika follows the baby into a really bad part of town only to discover powerful elementals abusing their gifts. Upon completion of her current mission, the baby gargoyle indicates that rest of of her nest has also been kidnapped and will be sold to the highest, and meanest, bidders. Mika has no choice but to intervene and hope for the best...
The location of the story is pretty ambiguous - it could almost be anywhere. This allows the reader to take what descriptions are given and build their own version of the world Rebecca Chastain has created. Mika is a compassionate soul. She is working hard to complete a job that should catapult her quartz creations to the top of everyone's list of supplier. When a gargoyle in need asks for her help, she stops her current task to come to another baby's aid. Then Mika continues to push aside this monumental career maker or breaker to help rescue the remaining babies.
Magic of the Gargoyles is a such a fantastic book. The plot is unique and exciting. The story line packs such a punch that you can't help but be drawn into and fully engaged in the story. The emotional content is in regards to the plight of the baby gargoyles was palpable. Mika's emotions transfer to the reader.
The author did a wonderful job developing the story in the short urban fantasy novella. I'm looking forward to continuing with the series with book 2, Curse of the Gargoyles.
Curse of the Gargoyles ~
Mika Stillwater is a quartz artisan from Terra Haven. As established in book 1, Mika is also a gargoyle healer and guardian. Mika is summoned to Focal Park via a captured message by Marcus Velasquez, a fire elemental with the Federal Pentagon Defense squad (FPD). When she arrives to see a dormant gargoyle caught in a horrible trap, Mika joins the FPD in an effort to set it free. A citizen had attempted to replicate the magical enhancement of the gargoyles for her own greedy purposes. She used paralyzed/comatose gargoyles to do her bidding, as they are unable to fight back. Unfortunately, the methods that have to be used to save the gargoyle threaten to destroy everyone and everything around Terra Haven.
Terra Haven, the location of the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, is pretty ambiguous; it could be anywhere. This allows the reader to take the well-written descriptions and build their own version of the world Rebecca Chastain has created. Mika is a compassionate soul and we continually learn more about the depth of her compassion. She's still has self-esteem issues and tries to compare herself to the FPD but what she does is different but just as important.
Curse of the Gargoyles is a fantastic book. The plot is unique and exciting. The story line packs such a punch that you can't help but be drawn into and fully engaged in the story. The emotional content is in regards to the plight of the trapped gargoyles was palpable. Mika's emotions transfer to the reader. I also enjoyed the subtle dynamics between Marcus and Mika. There is chemistry between them but it doesn't overshadow the story or the importance of the task at hand.
This is a fun urban fantasy that is fast paced and full of action and crackling with tension and uncertainty. The author did a wonderful job continuing the character and world development in Curse of the Gargoyles. I enjoyed the book so much that I read it in one day and immediately purchased Book 3 from Amazon when I was finished.
I voluntarily reviewed an author provided copy of this book.
Secret of the Gargoyles ~
Secret of the Gargoyles takes place approximately 3 months after book 2, Curse of the Gargoyles.
There are still comatose gargoyles throughout Terra Haven and even after three months of searching for answers, Mika is not any closer to saving the poor creatures. One of the gargoyles is the marmot she helped save from a null in book 2. After several weeks of being spied on by Celeste, a gargoyle from book 1, Magic of the Gargoyles, she finally approaches Mika with the Secret of the Gargoyles.
The fate of the comatose gargoyles has now been tenderly placed in Mika's hands. Knowing how to save them is only the first step. The next step is finding the location of the cure since it is veiled in magic for protection of all gargoyles. This requires trekking into an area that no human can survive and battling with the forces of wild magic that have claimed the land. Asking the Federal Pentagon Defense squad (FPD) is the next logical step in Mika's plan, only most of them are unavailable. She does manage to snag Marcus Velasquez, the guy she has a crush on, to go with her, Celeste, and Oliver, although he's not happy. This mission is wrought with danger and he can't sit idly by and let her go alone.
Terra Haven, the location of the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, is pretty ambiguous; it could be anywhere. This allows the reader to take the well-written descriptions and build their own version of the world Rebecca Chastain has created. Mika is a compassionate soul and we continually learn more about the depth of her compassion. We also see a part of her in book 3 that is quite different from the Mika of books 1 and 2. She learns the power and strength behind her gargoyle guardian abilities and what giving into them could mean. Is she strong enough to resist or not as she's pushed into a position that will make or break her? Marcus is such a patient and kind guy and I love his interactions with Mika. There is chemistry galore between them and love the subtle dynamics between them. Mika, however, has been so focused on the comatose gargoyles that she allowed herself to pull away from him and others.
Secret of the Gargoyles is a fantastic book. The plot of the story, the entire series actually, is unique and exciting. The story line packs such a punch that you can't help but be drawn into and fully engaged in the story. The emotional content in regards to the plight of the trapped gargoyles and Mika's passion to save them was realistic and Mika's emotions transfer to the reader.
This is a fun urban fantasy book that is fast paced and full of action and crackling with tension and uncertainty. The author did a wonderful job continuing the character and world development in Secret of the Gargoyles. I enjoyed the book and the series very much and hope to see the author write in this world a lot more. There are so many stories that still need to be told about Mika, Marcus, and Oliver.
This book is a verified Amazon purchase.
January 23, 2021
Absolutely loved the whole series
I loved the whole series. Mika was a great lead and I loved the explanation of how the magic and the gargoyles functioned. The attraction to Marcus was well written and the storyline had a beautiful pace. Thank you for writing one of my favourite series!
I loved the whole series. Mika was a great lead and I loved the explanation of how the magic and the gargoyles functioned. The attraction to Marcus was well written and the storyline had a beautiful pace. Thank you for writing one of my favourite series!
August 19, 2020
An author that makes you care
How do you explaine a book that makes you care about the people and animals as if they are your family. An author that makes you care about the characters and what happens. Won't let you go until the very end
How do you explaine a book that makes you care about the people and animals as if they are your family. An author that makes you care about the characters and what happens. Won't let you go until the very end
March 7, 2018
This is technically a review of three books by Rebecca Chastain, Magic of the Gargoyles, Curse of the Gargoyles, and Secret of the Gargoyles, all of which are packaged together in this bundle. I happened to pick it up for $0.99 on Kindle during a sale, so I definitely feel I got my money’s worth overall. I had varying opinions on each of the three books, and as such will handle each separately in this review.
Magic of the Gargoyles opens with a mid-level Earth Elemental (which took me a bit to figure out that by “elemental” the author meant magician, but we’ll get to that) named Mika Stillwater trying to repair some quartz containers for a demanding client. She has an unusual talent with quartz for someone at her power level, and manages to repair them perfectly despite most humans with talents similar to hers being unable to do that quality of work. Just as she’s sinking into the work, a beautiful panther gargoyle kit comes dashing into her home, thinking she’s a gargoyle and can help her save her friend.
She follows the kit and witnesses a terrorist act involving a fire gang that never shows up again, fueled by the life energy of the gargoyle’s littermate. This propels her into an action-packed (albeit brief) adventure in which she must rescue the rest of the litter from a wayward magician who auctions them off to the highest bidder. The worldbuilding is fantastic, as is the pacing. Her writing style is clean and readable, performing exactly as much as it needs to in order to get the story going. 5/5, it’s what led me to binge the next two books.
Curse of the Gargoyles opens up with the same client livid that her bottles weren’t finished, and one of the littermates from the first book has taken up residence in Mika’s apartment. She’s become a psuedo-celebrity as a gargoyle healer, and has taken up additional work along those lines. Soon she gets a call from the police department informing her that someone has begun insane experiments using gargoyle life energy again, this time involving separating the elements from inside the gargoyle’s bodies in defiance of nature.
This book spent more time working on defining the parameters of the magic system used in Chastain’s world, and although there was some character development and some fantastic descriptions, I didn’t find myself near as invested in the conflict in this second book. There was tension and danger, but the pacing felt off and most of the story felt like it was the same problem over and over again, more intellectual than emotional. 3/5. I still loved the characters from the first book, so I kept reading in the hopes things would get better.
Secret of the Gargoyles opens with the mystery presented at the end of Curse about a sleeping sickness that many humans had taken to be a part of the Gargoyle life cycle. After the dragon gargoyle who became her companion permanently at the end of Curse vouches for her in the presence of the mate to a sleeping gargoyle she attempts to heal (that was a mouthful), she’s declared a Gargoyle Guardian and given the secrets to eternal gargoyle life and healing, which the gargoyles deliberately kept hidden from all humans for millenia.
Mika enlists the help of one of her friends from the police force, a fire elemental she has a huge crush on but won’t admit her feelings to because she feels he’s out of her league, on a quest to delve into a dangerous area of wild magic where the key to healing the sick gargoyles lies.
This book had far better pacing than Curse, but didn’t quite live up to the potential in Magic. Chastain spends far too much time on the romantic subplot and not quite enough on the plot-plot for my tastes, though the climax and denoument were quite satisfying and in my opinion worth the wait. 4/5 stars, though I’m not sure how necessary Curse is to read in order to get here. I feel it could’ve been shortened to novella length or skipped over in favor of Magic straight into Secret.
4/5 overall for the series. I might check out the prequel/side story involving Mika’s best friend once she gets a few more books out. Not bad for $0.99.
Magic of the Gargoyles opens with a mid-level Earth Elemental (which took me a bit to figure out that by “elemental” the author meant magician, but we’ll get to that) named Mika Stillwater trying to repair some quartz containers for a demanding client. She has an unusual talent with quartz for someone at her power level, and manages to repair them perfectly despite most humans with talents similar to hers being unable to do that quality of work. Just as she’s sinking into the work, a beautiful panther gargoyle kit comes dashing into her home, thinking she’s a gargoyle and can help her save her friend.
She follows the kit and witnesses a terrorist act involving a fire gang that never shows up again, fueled by the life energy of the gargoyle’s littermate. This propels her into an action-packed (albeit brief) adventure in which she must rescue the rest of the litter from a wayward magician who auctions them off to the highest bidder. The worldbuilding is fantastic, as is the pacing. Her writing style is clean and readable, performing exactly as much as it needs to in order to get the story going. 5/5, it’s what led me to binge the next two books.
Curse of the Gargoyles opens up with the same client livid that her bottles weren’t finished, and one of the littermates from the first book has taken up residence in Mika’s apartment. She’s become a psuedo-celebrity as a gargoyle healer, and has taken up additional work along those lines. Soon she gets a call from the police department informing her that someone has begun insane experiments using gargoyle life energy again, this time involving separating the elements from inside the gargoyle’s bodies in defiance of nature.
This book spent more time working on defining the parameters of the magic system used in Chastain’s world, and although there was some character development and some fantastic descriptions, I didn’t find myself near as invested in the conflict in this second book. There was tension and danger, but the pacing felt off and most of the story felt like it was the same problem over and over again, more intellectual than emotional. 3/5. I still loved the characters from the first book, so I kept reading in the hopes things would get better.
Secret of the Gargoyles opens with the mystery presented at the end of Curse about a sleeping sickness that many humans had taken to be a part of the Gargoyle life cycle. After the dragon gargoyle who became her companion permanently at the end of Curse vouches for her in the presence of the mate to a sleeping gargoyle she attempts to heal (that was a mouthful), she’s declared a Gargoyle Guardian and given the secrets to eternal gargoyle life and healing, which the gargoyles deliberately kept hidden from all humans for millenia.
Mika enlists the help of one of her friends from the police force, a fire elemental she has a huge crush on but won’t admit her feelings to because she feels he’s out of her league, on a quest to delve into a dangerous area of wild magic where the key to healing the sick gargoyles lies.
This book had far better pacing than Curse, but didn’t quite live up to the potential in Magic. Chastain spends far too much time on the romantic subplot and not quite enough on the plot-plot for my tastes, though the climax and denoument were quite satisfying and in my opinion worth the wait. 4/5 stars, though I’m not sure how necessary Curse is to read in order to get here. I feel it could’ve been shortened to novella length or skipped over in favor of Magic straight into Secret.
4/5 overall for the series. I might check out the prequel/side story involving Mika’s best friend once she gets a few more books out. Not bad for $0.99.
December 15, 2018
Not kindle unlimited, bought when was on sale, the 3 set, and it is now about $5+ to get, though since was up on my reader/carousel it got lost for a while until I cleared some off to notice hadn't actually finished reading it, not beyond #1, so here I am to remedy that.
MAGIC of the GARGOYLES (Book 1) --
Mika Stillwater is a midlevel earth elemental with ambitions of becoming a quartz artisan, and her hard work is starting to get noticed. But when a panicked baby gargoyle bursts into her studio, insisting Mika is the only person she’ll trust with her desperate mission, Mika’s carefully constructed five-year plan is shattered. Swept into the gritty criminal underworld of Terra Haven, Mika jeopardizes everything she’s work so hard for as she attempts to save the baby gargoyle from the machinations of a monster—and to stay alive…
CURSE of the GARGOYLES (Book 2) -- Mika Stillwater isn’t known for her skills with combat magic. As a gargoyle healer, she spends her days mending broken appendages and curing illnesses in the living-quartz bodies of Terra Haven’s gargoyles. But when a squad of the city’s elite Federal Pentagon Defense warriors requests her assistance in freeing a gargoyle ensnared in a vicious invention, Mika jumps into the fray. No one could have predicted that her involvement would ignite a chain reaction set to destroy the city, the world, and magic itself.
SECRET of the GARGOYLES (Book 3) -- In her brief career as a gargoyle healer, Mika Stillwater has faced some daunting challenges, but none have stumped her—until now. A strange sickness infects a handful of gargoyles in Terra Haven, rendering them comatose and paralyzed. Worse, the cure she seeks is shrouded in the gargoyles’ mysterious culture and the secret they guard with their lives. Gaining the gargoyles’ trust is only the first step. To save the sick gargoyles, Mika must embark on a perilous mission into the heart of deadly wild magic to a place no human has ever survived...
Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles
Magic of the Gargoyles #1
Curse of the Gargoyles #2
Secret of the Gargoyles #3
Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles Omnibus
(Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles #1-3)
MAGIC of the GARGOYLES (Book 1) --
Mika Stillwater is a midlevel earth elemental with ambitions of becoming a quartz artisan, and her hard work is starting to get noticed. But when a panicked baby gargoyle bursts into her studio, insisting Mika is the only person she’ll trust with her desperate mission, Mika’s carefully constructed five-year plan is shattered. Swept into the gritty criminal underworld of Terra Haven, Mika jeopardizes everything she’s work so hard for as she attempts to save the baby gargoyle from the machinations of a monster—and to stay alive…
CURSE of the GARGOYLES (Book 2) -- Mika Stillwater isn’t known for her skills with combat magic. As a gargoyle healer, she spends her days mending broken appendages and curing illnesses in the living-quartz bodies of Terra Haven’s gargoyles. But when a squad of the city’s elite Federal Pentagon Defense warriors requests her assistance in freeing a gargoyle ensnared in a vicious invention, Mika jumps into the fray. No one could have predicted that her involvement would ignite a chain reaction set to destroy the city, the world, and magic itself.
SECRET of the GARGOYLES (Book 3) -- In her brief career as a gargoyle healer, Mika Stillwater has faced some daunting challenges, but none have stumped her—until now. A strange sickness infects a handful of gargoyles in Terra Haven, rendering them comatose and paralyzed. Worse, the cure she seeks is shrouded in the gargoyles’ mysterious culture and the secret they guard with their lives. Gaining the gargoyles’ trust is only the first step. To save the sick gargoyles, Mika must embark on a perilous mission into the heart of deadly wild magic to a place no human has ever survived...
Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles
Magic of the Gargoyles #1
Curse of the Gargoyles #2
Secret of the Gargoyles #3
Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles Omnibus
(Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles #1-3)
May 5, 2020
Intriguing World of Magic and Gargoyles
I thought the World was creative, but I wanted to know more. Does everyone have elemental magic? I enjoyed the variety of Gargoyles --but again, wanted to know more about their role in that World. Most of the weakness in those areas, as well as the lack of depth of the Heroine, was a direct consequence of the brevity of these books.
My main comp!aint, however, is the unfinished feeling after reading this box set. The romance never progressed beyond kissing...and that was towards the very end of the last book in the set. The Heroine never really developed much real power, although her Gargoyle healing improved. I expected her abilities to substantially increase after she became the Guardian, but they didn't.
Even with all the issues stated above, I still managed to enjoy this series--short as it was. But the Author should really consider going back and truly developing this series, because it was a unique look at magic and Gargoyles. 3-3/4 Stars for me.
I thought the World was creative, but I wanted to know more. Does everyone have elemental magic? I enjoyed the variety of Gargoyles --but again, wanted to know more about their role in that World. Most of the weakness in those areas, as well as the lack of depth of the Heroine, was a direct consequence of the brevity of these books.
My main comp!aint, however, is the unfinished feeling after reading this box set. The romance never progressed beyond kissing...and that was towards the very end of the last book in the set. The Heroine never really developed much real power, although her Gargoyle healing improved. I expected her abilities to substantially increase after she became the Guardian, but they didn't.
Even with all the issues stated above, I still managed to enjoy this series--short as it was. But the Author should really consider going back and truly developing this series, because it was a unique look at magic and Gargoyles. 3-3/4 Stars for me.
September 9, 2018
Wonderful new-to-me series!
My advise is, don’t read Magic Of The Gargoyles and Curse Of The Gargoyles unless you have Secret Of The Gargoyles in your hands already because books 1 and 2 ends in big whooping cliffhangers! I am soooo not a fan of cliffies!
What I’m wondering about is that, why is it with all the near death experiences of our heroine, we don’t see her parents or her sister? Where are they?…
Plot is not this author’s biggest forte. However, this is an urban fantasy series so I am not expecting a twisty plot like I would if it was a crime fiction, so in my point of view, it is not really a demerit.
At the end of it, I enjoyed this omnibus a lot and I would recommend it to any urban fantasy geek!
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 5
Plot = 3.5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
My advise is, don’t read Magic Of The Gargoyles and Curse Of The Gargoyles unless you have Secret Of The Gargoyles in your hands already because books 1 and 2 ends in big whooping cliffhangers! I am soooo not a fan of cliffies!
What I’m wondering about is that, why is it with all the near death experiences of our heroine, we don’t see her parents or her sister? Where are they?…
Plot is not this author’s biggest forte. However, this is an urban fantasy series so I am not expecting a twisty plot like I would if it was a crime fiction, so in my point of view, it is not really a demerit.
At the end of it, I enjoyed this omnibus a lot and I would recommend it to any urban fantasy geek!
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 5
Plot = 3.5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
May 26, 2018
I don't understand all the great reviews. These are not books, but short stories! The author was annoyingly repetitive. Mika is not powerful but has amazing QUARTZ skills... this is told to us every single page. This happened in each short story. I started to highlight quartz, healer, and gargoyle to see how many times it was repeated... but it started driving me nuts so i stopped. There is very little character development. It's sad because the world and characters have so much potential. Don't waste your money.
June 26, 2019
Out of the 3 books, the first one was my least favorite, as it was more or less an introduction to a wonderful cast of characters. There was action, but not enough of it and it was the most juvenile of the three books. Taken as a whole, thought...it was a GREAT series. I loved Mika and her gargoyles. I loved the drama, the tension and the not easily reconciled problems encountered by Mika the gargoyle healer.
I was really so sorry to see this trilogy come to an end. Wonderfully flawed characters who somehow make things work. Well done, Rebecca Chastain. Well done, indeed.
I was really so sorry to see this trilogy come to an end. Wonderfully flawed characters who somehow make things work. Well done, Rebecca Chastain. Well done, indeed.
April 27, 2020
Gargoyles are a great new fantasy option for me. This trilogy was great and got better and better, I was not ready to give up my new fantasy favourites and Rebecca Chastain anticipated my wish and offered a novella - what a star.
I enjoyed the world building, a new place where the humans and magic beasts have different but similar powers. Mika lives in a small building, her best friend is an aspiring journalist and Mika wants to be an artist making the best jewellery to be found. Then she discovers her true talents are so much greater.
I enjoyed the world building, a new place where the humans and magic beasts have different but similar powers. Mika lives in a small building, her best friend is an aspiring journalist and Mika wants to be an artist making the best jewellery to be found. Then she discovers her true talents are so much greater.
August 9, 2020
I fell right into this interesting world. Unique take on gargoyles which, I have to admit, I had a hard time wrapping my head around some of the technical bits involved, but still enjoyed it anyway.
Yes, it does have some flaws that lessened the enjoyment, but for the most part, I was able to overlook them and was able to sink into the story. The storylines themselves are quite good, filled with interesting characters and held my attention.
If you like gargoyles, I think you'll appreciate the new ideas here.
Yes, it does have some flaws that lessened the enjoyment, but for the most part, I was able to overlook them and was able to sink into the story. The storylines themselves are quite good, filled with interesting characters and held my attention.
If you like gargoyles, I think you'll appreciate the new ideas here.
February 10, 2021
A good series of stories; good, light reading. Nice world, good characters - but not so much in the way of character development. That's not to say that the characters aren't good - just that they don't have a lot of depth. The stories all follow one another, but they develop too quickly. The heroine's abilities develop in leaps and bounds, not so much little by little (which is how normal people work). There is good continuity, but not a lot of connectivity.
That being said, I liked the series and would like to read more of them.
That being said, I liked the series and would like to read more of them.
March 26, 2022
Not enough
I liked book 1 and 3, found book 2 difficult to read, I could not visualise the story, needed an animation to follow the intricacies of the weaving and dismantling of the elements, it was like reading a knitting pattern. ( I know nothing about knitting).
Furthermore the books look much more like the introductory chapters of a much larger story. In my minds eye can see a much bigger story developing. To me it appears like an incomplete story.
Maybe I am to old to read books like this. As the song says : I am too old to die young.
I liked book 1 and 3, found book 2 difficult to read, I could not visualise the story, needed an animation to follow the intricacies of the weaving and dismantling of the elements, it was like reading a knitting pattern. ( I know nothing about knitting).
Furthermore the books look much more like the introductory chapters of a much larger story. In my minds eye can see a much bigger story developing. To me it appears like an incomplete story.
Maybe I am to old to read books like this. As the song says : I am too old to die young.
Read
October 22, 2023I enjoyed this well enough, as each book was better than the last. However, if I hadn't owned the bundle I probably would have quit reading after the first one. The descriptions of magic use is dynamic and compelling, but there's never an explanation of the physicality. We get descriptions of characters anchoring circles and throwing their magic around, but I still have no idea what that looked like. (As an example, think of the netflix show Shadow and Bone, and how those characters make very deliberate motions to do magic.)
March 12, 2018
Interesting read
enjoyed the book after the first part that seems too detailed but then this is the first type of this kind of book I have read with this kind of story line. in my mind I could see the rock creatures come to life and to believe that all things can have a soul is amazing. glad to see all books are not sex related is great as well. gives to the imagination thank you
enjoyed the book after the first part that seems too detailed but then this is the first type of this kind of book I have read with this kind of story line. in my mind I could see the rock creatures come to life and to believe that all things can have a soul is amazing. glad to see all books are not sex related is great as well. gives to the imagination thank you
May 23, 2021
What a beautiful mind created this series! I was so sad to see it end . What is the possibility of more adventures with this loveable gang? It seemed impossible to top the previous two books in this series,, but this last adventure was assume! The Heart of this one promised aid. Mika, Oliver,and Marcus take on a quest to save seven dormant Gargoyles. What follows is any amazingly wonderful look into what it takes to meet the challenges they meet. This series is a real keeper!
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