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Merlin's Descendants #2
Guardian of the Trust
Here is the second novel in Irene Radford's acclaimed new series-a glorious blend of fact and fiction, magic and myth.
The reign of King John Plantagenet is a time of danger and rebellion. It will take all the magical talent Resmiranda Griffin has inherited from Merlin and King Arthur to stand against the demonic menace which is gaining control of her beloved land....
The reign of King John Plantagenet is a time of danger and rebellion. It will take all the magical talent Resmiranda Griffin has inherited from Merlin and King Arthur to stand against the demonic menace which is gaining control of her beloved land....
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
5 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Irene Radford
127 books135 followersAlso uses C.F. Bentley, Phyllis Irene Radford, Julia Verne St. John, Rachel Atwood, Phyllis Ames, P. Irene Radford and P.R. Frost.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 25, 2020
It was hard to put down.
November 12, 2025
This is the second book in a series of novels focusing on the mythical bloodline of Merlin. This story is set about 800 years after “Guardian of the Balance,†which places the story in the 13th century. The protagonist of this novel is Resmiranda Griffin, nicknamed Ana. She is the descendent of Arthur and Wren many generations down the line. The story takes place during the rule of King John Plantagenet, best know as the villainous King John from the story of Robin Hood, i.e. Robin Locksley. This story takes place many years after the Robin Hood tales, Robin Locksley is still against the King, but he is not the main male character nor even still actively antagonizing the King. The King has been ensorcelled by his half-brother Radburn Blakely who's mother was half demon. Blakely wishes to rule Britain and only Resmiranda has the heritage and inherited power to resist him. While Resmiranda has to fight with herself to embrace her “pagan†magic which is abhorred by her Christian upbringing.
There are many references to places and people from the “Guardian of the Balance†but if you haven't read “Guardian of the Balance†it does not deter from “Guardian of the Trust".†As this book deals with a completely new set of characters, the references from “Guardian of the Balance†just give a sense of history behind the story, but doesn't revel plot secrets.
Radburn does a wonderful job of mixing historical fact with fiction to provide us with a magical tale. King John is not the villain I thought he was, he is a conflicted and complicated character like most of Radburn's characters. And Resmiranda has a deep inner struggle that allows most of the plots conflicts to be internal rather than external. The writing style of “Guardian of the Truth†was a much easier read than “Guardian of the Balance.†The story seemed to just flow easily in and out of history seamlessly. Resmiranda is a strong woman and in a time when women had little power, Resmiranda is written into very powerful role and is very relatable and likable. This was a quick read for me, I was drawn into the story and couldn't put it down, I read the whole book in two days. This felt like a book written by an experienced writer who knows what makes a good story. Guardian of the Truth is a great historical fiction novel.
There are many references to places and people from the “Guardian of the Balance†but if you haven't read “Guardian of the Balance†it does not deter from “Guardian of the Trust".†As this book deals with a completely new set of characters, the references from “Guardian of the Balance†just give a sense of history behind the story, but doesn't revel plot secrets.
Radburn does a wonderful job of mixing historical fact with fiction to provide us with a magical tale. King John is not the villain I thought he was, he is a conflicted and complicated character like most of Radburn's characters. And Resmiranda has a deep inner struggle that allows most of the plots conflicts to be internal rather than external. The writing style of “Guardian of the Truth†was a much easier read than “Guardian of the Balance.†The story seemed to just flow easily in and out of history seamlessly. Resmiranda is a strong woman and in a time when women had little power, Resmiranda is written into very powerful role and is very relatable and likable. This was a quick read for me, I was drawn into the story and couldn't put it down, I read the whole book in two days. This felt like a book written by an experienced writer who knows what makes a good story. Guardian of the Truth is a great historical fiction novel.
November 27, 2014
After reading the first novel in this series, Guardian of the Balance, I decided I needed to get the second book, so I bought it off of Amazon. This book brings us to the early 1200's in England - Arylwren's dedcendant, Resmiranda Griffin (Ana), shares the magical abilities of her ancestor, but having been raised in the Church, she is hesitant to use magic. As a child, she is pursued by a dark force which she doesn't understand, so she spends much of her formative years running from convent to convent, hiding from the man with the black aura who seeks her. As an adult, she meets Sir Hugh Fitz Chenenoir, who saves her from a raid on her latest hiding place, and the two begin to fall in love. However, the two are soon separated. Can Ana defeat the man with the black aura? Will she and Sir Hugh ever be reunited?
I did enjoy this book, but not as much as the first. There was a lot more history in this one - King John, the Crusades, even a bit of a cameo by Robin of Locksley. Sometimes the court intrigue and royal history got to be a little much. I did enjoy the magical parts, and the love story between Ana and Hugh. But I didn't like Ana as much as I liked Wren, in the first book. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was that she was much more religious than Wren, and more reluctant to use her magic. She spent a lot of the book dithering about whether or not using magic would estrange her from God. I just wasn't into the religious overtones, although I understand that it was a symptom of the times.
Recommended for fans of the first book, for anyone who likes a pretty solid love story, and for anyone who enjoys stories about the Middle Ages. Four out of five Whatevers. I'll be checking out the next one, if only to find out which descendant of Ana it deals with.
I did enjoy this book, but not as much as the first. There was a lot more history in this one - King John, the Crusades, even a bit of a cameo by Robin of Locksley. Sometimes the court intrigue and royal history got to be a little much. I did enjoy the magical parts, and the love story between Ana and Hugh. But I didn't like Ana as much as I liked Wren, in the first book. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was that she was much more religious than Wren, and more reluctant to use her magic. She spent a lot of the book dithering about whether or not using magic would estrange her from God. I just wasn't into the religious overtones, although I understand that it was a symptom of the times.
Recommended for fans of the first book, for anyone who likes a pretty solid love story, and for anyone who enjoys stories about the Middle Ages. Four out of five Whatevers. I'll be checking out the next one, if only to find out which descendant of Ana it deals with.
August 16, 2008
Tolerable
July 9, 2009
British history, Nature magic, well-described characters, an interesting plot, everything I need to keep me entertained.
May 28, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews