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dozylocal's review against another edition
3.0
The blurb for this book isn't very gripping. Thankfully I bought the series based entirely on the awesome covers :-)
I wasn't too sure what to expect (especially after reading the blurb). In the end it was a fast-paced and enjoyable tale (with some unfortunate text layout errors along the way - but thankfully those were few and far between and not too distracting).
The story starts with Quinn who is raising the twin children of her dead sister. The children are kidnapped by "The Gaurdians", a group of twelve that Quinn, her father, and the father of the children are all bound too. The children are safe, but Quinn has to promise to return to her Gaurdian duties before she will be allowed to see them again.
A lot of the book is spent explaining the back stories. What is Summerfeld and how did it come to be? What is the role of the Gaurdians? What and who are the creatures that they are protecting? And how did it come to pass that the magical creatures needed to be hidden and protected in the first place?
Turns out, the baddies are vampires. So there's a bit of a "A Discovery of Witches Feel", especially when Quinn ends up in a strange partnership with a vampire called Drake. To complicate matters more, there is also a band of humans trying to find the elusive Summerfeld - a band of humans more commonly known as gypsies.
The story is set between the fantastical city of Summerveld and a modern-day world. I have an inkling that some of the back stories of some of the characters - whether their own, in the case of the long-lived, or their ancestors', in the case of the humans - will end up being intertwined.
I have the full series so will definitely be continuing with book two.
I wasn't too sure what to expect (especially after reading the blurb). In the end it was a fast-paced and enjoyable tale (with some unfortunate text layout errors along the way - but thankfully those were few and far between and not too distracting).
The story starts with Quinn who is raising the twin children of her dead sister. The children are kidnapped by "The Gaurdians", a group of twelve that Quinn, her father, and the father of the children are all bound too. The children are safe, but Quinn has to promise to return to her Gaurdian duties before she will be allowed to see them again.
A lot of the book is spent explaining the back stories. What is Summerfeld and how did it come to be? What is the role of the Gaurdians? What and who are the creatures that they are protecting? And how did it come to pass that the magical creatures needed to be hidden and protected in the first place?
Turns out, the baddies are vampires. So there's a bit of a "A Discovery of Witches Feel", especially when Quinn ends up in a strange partnership with a vampire called Drake. To complicate matters more, there is also a band of humans trying to find the elusive Summerfeld - a band of humans more commonly known as gypsies.
The story is set between the fantastical city of Summerveld and a modern-day world. I have an inkling that some of the back stories of some of the characters - whether their own, in the case of the long-lived, or their ancestors', in the case of the humans - will end up being intertwined.
I have the full series so will definitely be continuing with book two.
nannyf's review
4.0
As a teenager I loved stories which involved mythical creatures. This continues today, and I am always looking for a new series of books to indulge my fantasy cravings. When I was asked by the author if I would like to read the first in her fantasy series I was more than happy to oblige.
There are a lot of different strands to this story. We have a young woman who is raising her niece and nephew following the death of her beloved twin sister. She is doing a great job, and loves them as if they were her own. But this isn't just a simple case of sisterly love. The sisters were, first and foremost, guardians of a secret city called Summerfeld. The city has been protected by the guardians, and magic, for many years. The purpose of the secrecy, and indeed the guardians themselves, is to protect the last remaining magical creatures from vampires who are set on killing them all.
The number of guardians needed to properly fulfil these duties is twelve. If a guardian is killed another will be called upon to fill the space. However following the death of Quinn's sister, Avery, her successor has failed to appear. Quinn is called back to Summerfeld to fulfill her destiny as a guardian, but refuses on the basis that she must find her niece and nephew who have been hidden from her as a way to ensure she returns.
The story then takes quite a surreal turn when Quinn settles in another town, trying to discover the whereabouts of the missing children, and finds herself making friends with the most unlikely of people.
There are so many magical strands to this story, so many new creatures to meet. I found it a little difficult at first trying to keep up with everyone the author was introducing. But once I got into the book I was totally sucked in. There are quite a few different storylines happening at the same time, all which work together to turn this from a simple story into something which promises so much more to come.
Many thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review. I will be moving on to book two as soon as I can.
There are a lot of different strands to this story. We have a young woman who is raising her niece and nephew following the death of her beloved twin sister. She is doing a great job, and loves them as if they were her own. But this isn't just a simple case of sisterly love. The sisters were, first and foremost, guardians of a secret city called Summerfeld. The city has been protected by the guardians, and magic, for many years. The purpose of the secrecy, and indeed the guardians themselves, is to protect the last remaining magical creatures from vampires who are set on killing them all.
The number of guardians needed to properly fulfil these duties is twelve. If a guardian is killed another will be called upon to fill the space. However following the death of Quinn's sister, Avery, her successor has failed to appear. Quinn is called back to Summerfeld to fulfill her destiny as a guardian, but refuses on the basis that she must find her niece and nephew who have been hidden from her as a way to ensure she returns.
The story then takes quite a surreal turn when Quinn settles in another town, trying to discover the whereabouts of the missing children, and finds herself making friends with the most unlikely of people.
There are so many magical strands to this story, so many new creatures to meet. I found it a little difficult at first trying to keep up with everyone the author was introducing. But once I got into the book I was totally sucked in. There are quite a few different storylines happening at the same time, all which work together to turn this from a simple story into something which promises so much more to come.
Many thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review. I will be moving on to book two as soon as I can.
guitarrafreak953's review
5.0
Wow. What an amazing beginning to a series! I loved every second of reading this book, the City and all the supernatural creatures was just amazing. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Definitely a must read for those who love anything to do with the supernatural, especially Dragons!
Definitely a must read for those who love anything to do with the supernatural, especially Dragons!
vickimarie2002's review
3.0
This story seemed to be promising but I sometimes found the characters to be lacking in depth. I know this is a series, and it did have a cliffhanger, but it seemed like it didn't really close very well. There were a few times that I was kind of confused about who were were "following" at the time and also a few times that I couldn't figure out where we were. The story just kind of jumped around. It is interesting with the Guardians and the City of Summerfeld. I did like Quinn as well.
casseyt's review
5.0
This books is an amazing start to what seems will a knock it out of the park series. I love the protagonist, Quinn. She is all that you would expect from someone who has lead the life that she has. Her fierce determination to protect, and care for those she loves is shown time and time again as a core part of who she is that drives her actions.
The parts of the book that dovetails into other stories, isn't for me. I want this to be the Quinn and Drake show all the time ;)
It's a wonderful read, that keeps you reading. I finished it in a day, and can't wait to get the others so that I can do another deep dive.
The parts of the book that dovetails into other stories, isn't for me. I want this to be the Quinn and Drake show all the time ;)
It's a wonderful read, that keeps you reading. I finished it in a day, and can't wait to get the others so that I can do another deep dive.
momwithareadingproblem's review
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from I Am a Reader in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Cathedral of Cliffdale by Melissa Delport is the first in a new paranormal series that reminds me a lot of Anne Bishop’s series The Others. In Delport’s Guardians of Summerfeld, a Guardian is dead and for the first time in a millennium a replacement hasn’t come forward. Quinn Harden is the twin sister of the dead Guardian and feeling a responsibility to her niece and nephew, she leaves her post as a Guardian to raise them. But it’s never that simple. A Guardian cannot leave her post without repercussions and now her niece and nephew are gone. Quinn will stop at nothing to find them.
Quinn is an easy character to love. She’s fiercely loyal, a determined and natural leader, and loves with her whole being. She’s never questioned her calling as a Guardian until her sister dies and leaves two children to raise. Not wanting them to have the same life she had living in the confines of Summerfeld, she leaves the fold to raise them in the realm of man. She refuses to return and denies an important part of herself that yearns for her wards to care for the children. She uses her grief and hatred of their father as an excuse until that no longer stands as a reason. When the Guardians take the children against Quinn’s will, she vows to get them back and promises her sister’s missing crystal in return.
Quinn isn’t the only character though and for once I loved the omniscient 3rd person POV that Melissa Delport introduces in this series. I’m not usually a fan of this type of POV. I’d rather the story be told from one perspective or flip between the two main characters, BUT it really works for this book/series. I enjoyed knowing what the other characters were thinking, what drove them and their actions, and it flowed naturally. While Quinn is the main focus as the death of her sister is the catalyst for the events in the book, I loved the other characters and found myself drawn to them and their story.
Drake is perhaps my favorite character next to Quinn. He is a vampire and has been living since the Blood Wars. He is peaceful, not participating in the vampires quest for Summerfeld. While he is vicious and a tad scary, I think he’s a big softy, especially where Quinn is concerned. I found it intriguing and cannot wait to find out more about him and his life in the next books of the series.
The world-building in this book is the biggest draw for me. as much as I love the characters, it’s their world that I love most. Delport has created an amazing paranormal world that exists within our own. Vampires walk among us while the inhabitants of Summerfeld are hidden by the magic of the Fae. There are creatures ranging from unicorns to dragons to werewolves and Fae. If it’s paranormal, it’s in this book! There are gypsies like you’ve never seen them before and ordinary humans caught in the midst. Like I already mentioned, reminiscent to Bishop’s The Others but wholly unique in its execution.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. Once I started it, I found every reason I could think of not to sit it down. And when I finished it….let’s just say I’ve bought the rest of the series to read. If you enjoy paranormal, urban fantasy, and a tiny touch of romance, I highly recommend you pick up a copy ASAP! You won’t be disappointed.
The Cathedral of Cliffdale by Melissa Delport is the first in a new paranormal series that reminds me a lot of Anne Bishop’s series The Others. In Delport’s Guardians of Summerfeld, a Guardian is dead and for the first time in a millennium a replacement hasn’t come forward. Quinn Harden is the twin sister of the dead Guardian and feeling a responsibility to her niece and nephew, she leaves her post as a Guardian to raise them. But it’s never that simple. A Guardian cannot leave her post without repercussions and now her niece and nephew are gone. Quinn will stop at nothing to find them.
Quinn is an easy character to love. She’s fiercely loyal, a determined and natural leader, and loves with her whole being. She’s never questioned her calling as a Guardian until her sister dies and leaves two children to raise. Not wanting them to have the same life she had living in the confines of Summerfeld, she leaves the fold to raise them in the realm of man. She refuses to return and denies an important part of herself that yearns for her wards to care for the children. She uses her grief and hatred of their father as an excuse until that no longer stands as a reason. When the Guardians take the children against Quinn’s will, she vows to get them back and promises her sister’s missing crystal in return.
Quinn isn’t the only character though and for once I loved the omniscient 3rd person POV that Melissa Delport introduces in this series. I’m not usually a fan of this type of POV. I’d rather the story be told from one perspective or flip between the two main characters, BUT it really works for this book/series. I enjoyed knowing what the other characters were thinking, what drove them and their actions, and it flowed naturally. While Quinn is the main focus as the death of her sister is the catalyst for the events in the book, I loved the other characters and found myself drawn to them and their story.
Drake is perhaps my favorite character next to Quinn. He is a vampire and has been living since the Blood Wars. He is peaceful, not participating in the vampires quest for Summerfeld. While he is vicious and a tad scary, I think he’s a big softy, especially where Quinn is concerned. I found it intriguing and cannot wait to find out more about him and his life in the next books of the series.
The world-building in this book is the biggest draw for me. as much as I love the characters, it’s their world that I love most. Delport has created an amazing paranormal world that exists within our own. Vampires walk among us while the inhabitants of Summerfeld are hidden by the magic of the Fae. There are creatures ranging from unicorns to dragons to werewolves and Fae. If it’s paranormal, it’s in this book! There are gypsies like you’ve never seen them before and ordinary humans caught in the midst. Like I already mentioned, reminiscent to Bishop’s The Others but wholly unique in its execution.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. Once I started it, I found every reason I could think of not to sit it down. And when I finished it….let’s just say I’ve bought the rest of the series to read. If you enjoy paranormal, urban fantasy, and a tiny touch of romance, I highly recommend you pick up a copy ASAP! You won’t be disappointed.
magickislife's review
5.0
What a fantastic book! I could not put it down, such an interesting take on magical creatures. I cannot wait to read further in the series to find out what happens next. These various story lines are all very intriguing and one really wants to know how they all converge.
Quinn is a fantastically strong female character and I love how she interacts with those around her. Drake is an interesting character and I am dying to know more about him. The whole thing just draws me in.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a copy of an honest review.
Quinn is a fantastically strong female character and I love how she interacts with those around her. Drake is an interesting character and I am dying to know more about him. The whole thing just draws me in.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a copy of an honest review.
carynwelby's review
4.0
One of the biggest challenges of the fantasy genre is being able to build a world that is both believable and rich, and Melissa Delport does that excellently from Summerhall to Cliffdale, I could almost feel the chill in the atmosphere, or imagined the setting encloses of all the mythical creatures. Delport completely achieved the transportation of the readers’ minds to a different realm.
Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was that the story was told from multiple sources, it centers around a centuries long war between the vampires and fae but even though the protagonist was on the side of the fae we got to see the story from the perspective of the vampires too, and the gypsies who fall in the middle and other characters making the story that much more endowed and richer. It was like a 360 look at this one point in the story’s timeline.
The storyline of Quinn and Drake completely enthralled me and I found myself hooked and eager for them to interact more. Perhaps it’s the chemistry or my unhealthy obsession with forbidden love, but I was rooting for them every step of the way even though they fought on opposite sides. I loved their unlikely friendship.
A strong female character is always enough to get me interested in a book, regardless of the genre, and Delport delivered with Quinn. She is multi-faceted, interesting, tough, vulnerable and most of all, she feels real. She is the driving force in this novel and what kept me interested all the way through.
One problem I did have with the book however is that I found that Delport introduced too many mythical creatures too soon - I felt like I was barely learning about vampires when the gypsies were introduced then the werewolves, then the faes, then the unicorns etc. I was constantly confused over which character was who and what species each one was. I think this might have been easier to understand if so many mythical creatures were not introduced in the first book and they were staggered throughout the series.
Would I recommend this: Yes, Quinn and Drake will suck you in, you will cheer for Quinn, and the world itself is a place you have to experience for yourself.
Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was that the story was told from multiple sources, it centers around a centuries long war between the vampires and fae but even though the protagonist was on the side of the fae we got to see the story from the perspective of the vampires too, and the gypsies who fall in the middle and other characters making the story that much more endowed and richer. It was like a 360 look at this one point in the story’s timeline.
The storyline of Quinn and Drake completely enthralled me and I found myself hooked and eager for them to interact more. Perhaps it’s the chemistry or my unhealthy obsession with forbidden love, but I was rooting for them every step of the way even though they fought on opposite sides. I loved their unlikely friendship.
A strong female character is always enough to get me interested in a book, regardless of the genre, and Delport delivered with Quinn. She is multi-faceted, interesting, tough, vulnerable and most of all, she feels real. She is the driving force in this novel and what kept me interested all the way through.
One problem I did have with the book however is that I found that Delport introduced too many mythical creatures too soon - I felt like I was barely learning about vampires when the gypsies were introduced then the werewolves, then the faes, then the unicorns etc. I was constantly confused over which character was who and what species each one was. I think this might have been easier to understand if so many mythical creatures were not introduced in the first book and they were staggered throughout the series.
Would I recommend this: Yes, Quinn and Drake will suck you in, you will cheer for Quinn, and the world itself is a place you have to experience for yourself.
ree_101c's review
4.0
I have got to say that I didn't think that I would like this book, let alone finish it in two days and love it.
As a lover of the mythical/paranormal/fantasy genre, this story really caught my attention and held it throughout the story. The protagonist is a strong female character, that holds so much love for her family, which is the ultimate driver of the story. Even with that love, she at times finds herself torn between her family and her sense of duty to protect the wards. I also love how when it comes down to it, she can admit that her actions were wrong.
On top of the main character's quest, there are 'separate' stories that are being woven into the main one. I love would to see how they all play out in the future books. The separate stories play host to some compelling characters, being separate does not diminish their importance in the overall story.
Now even though I loved the book, I can't bring myself to give it 5/5. At points, the story seemed to drag at points and I was able to predict the ending once the quest was established (Could be because of my awesome detective skills)
I recently heard of Melissa's work and I'm so thankful that I was able to get a hold of such an amazing book. Can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series!
As a lover of the mythical/paranormal/fantasy genre, this story really caught my attention and held it throughout the story. The protagonist is a strong female character, that holds so much love for her family, which is the ultimate driver of the story. Even with that love, she at times finds herself torn between her family and her sense of duty to protect the wards. I also love how when it comes down to it, she can admit that her actions were wrong.
On top of the main character's quest, there are 'separate' stories that are being woven into the main one. I love would to see how they all play out in the future books. The separate stories play host to some compelling characters, being separate does not diminish their importance in the overall story.
Now even though I loved the book, I can't bring myself to give it 5/5. At points, the story seemed to drag at points and I was able to predict the ending once the quest was established (Could be because of my awesome detective skills)
I recently heard of Melissa's work and I'm so thankful that I was able to get a hold of such an amazing book. Can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series!
friedatweehuysen's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! You hit the right spot Melissa! It is so my type of book and I've enjoyed it from the start.