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mtzbookworm64's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent continuation of Proxy – couldn’t put it down. We found out how the futuristic, dystopia world continues and the quest to save everyone. Once again, great action and terrific twists and turns in this marvelous book.
calycooper's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Stayed up late to finally finish this series (even had to reread Book 1 since I kinda forgot the plot, it's been years!) only to meet that jaw-dropping ending (WTF?! 🙄) Not because I was blown away but because I couldn't believe I stayed up late for THAT?! It was definitely realistic, points for that. Not the usual people pleasing ending but it could've at least cleared a bit up not left it hanging for 3 years! The Daydreamer short story could've been added to this instead to wrap things up.
P.S. I don't think anyone would read up to this but just wanted to share after finally reading Daydreamer, I kind of understood why it was released separately. Smart ass pretty boy would definitely steal the show from Gingersnap 😉
P.S. I don't think anyone would read up to this but just wanted to share after finally reading Daydreamer, I kind of understood why it was released separately. Smart ass pretty boy would definitely steal the show from Gingersnap 😉
alexscholls's review
3.0
I did not like this book as much as I liked PROXY! I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that it was predictable: that Liam and Syd fall in love. I mean honestly, the bodyguard assigned to Syd happens to fall in love with him? Proximity, I suppose, is a factor, but a weak one at best. It was too much of a coincidence for me, and considering the "oh shoot, I really don't know what's going to happen next" feeling I got from PROXY, I expected more of the same for GUARDIAN. That unfortunately didn't happen.
I thought the concept was very cool: a disease that turns out to be an intense form of withdrawal? Awesome twist.
I thought the concept was very cool: a disease that turns out to be an intense form of withdrawal? Awesome twist.
bookswritingandmore's review against another edition
5.0
This was such an amazing book, told in perfect writing detail. I loved the fact that there was FINALLY diversity within the writing and the characters.
Very rarely, I come across a book that manages to surprise me.
From the first sentence, I knew that all of my assumptions and hesitations were going to be irrelevant, and what followed was one of the most exciting and surprisingly multi-layered works of YA fiction I have ever read.
The most interesting and unique plot is the proxy system, introduced in this book. When rich kids (patrons) in the Upper City break the law or do something punishable, they are forced to sit and watch the punishment (usually some form of electrical shock, though forced labor also comes into play) be taken out on their proxy. The proxies never see or meet their patrons. In one of the novel's best written and most memorable scenes, we watch as a patron experiences psychological suffering while watching his proxy's physical suffering during punishment. This book goes to some very dark places, and this is a scene that will stick with me for a long time.
Alex London shows no fear in the writing of this novel. He goes places that most writers hesitate to bring up. He tells his story his way and doesn't let society pressures or what might be popular deter him from getting his voice heard.
This book was five starts all the way!
Very rarely, I come across a book that manages to surprise me.
From the first sentence, I knew that all of my assumptions and hesitations were going to be irrelevant, and what followed was one of the most exciting and surprisingly multi-layered works of YA fiction I have ever read.
The most interesting and unique plot is the proxy system, introduced in this book. When rich kids (patrons) in the Upper City break the law or do something punishable, they are forced to sit and watch the punishment (usually some form of electrical shock, though forced labor also comes into play) be taken out on their proxy. The proxies never see or meet their patrons. In one of the novel's best written and most memorable scenes, we watch as a patron experiences psychological suffering while watching his proxy's physical suffering during punishment. This book goes to some very dark places, and this is a scene that will stick with me for a long time.
Alex London shows no fear in the writing of this novel. He goes places that most writers hesitate to bring up. He tells his story his way and doesn't let society pressures or what might be popular deter him from getting his voice heard.
This book was five starts all the way!
superflyguy's review against another edition
4.0
The ending was just a HUGE cliff hanger... Other than that it was good.
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
The second book in the Proxy trilogy had me worried. Proxy was an overthrow novel, a book about an unfair government being taken down by a ragtag band of desperate fugitives. Lots of Big Think, plus lots of chases! How do you follow that up?
Wow, though. Guardian is what happens when the oligarchs have been overthrown and the Maoists take over. Sort-of-Maoists. Let's not split hairs. Maoists. And man, you think oligarchs are fun enemies - ain't nobody you want to see get their teeth stove in like a Maoist.
The action is just as fast. The Think is just as big. And I swear, I was really impressed by Alexander London's depiction and explanations of institutionalized economic injustice in Proxy, but now I am convinced that what he knows most about is postcolonial trauma. Amazing.
Wow, though. Guardian is what happens when the oligarchs have been overthrown and the Maoists take over. Sort-of-Maoists. Let's not split hairs. Maoists. And man, you think oligarchs are fun enemies - ain't nobody you want to see get their teeth stove in like a Maoist.
The action is just as fast. The Think is just as big. And I swear, I was really impressed by Alexander London's depiction and explanations of institutionalized economic injustice in Proxy, but now I am convinced that what he knows most about is postcolonial trauma. Amazing.
daffz's review against another edition
4.0
Probably closer to a 3.5 star rating.
I liked Proxy slightly better than Guardian, but that didn't mean this one was bad. It was just missing a few things that I liked in the first book and I felt Proxy's ending was a lot stronger too.
First of all, I missed Knox. I didn't expect him to be back, obviously, but I still missed his humor in this book. I did like Liam, but he was very different sort of character.
What mostly held me back from fully enjoying this book was the very end. It was abrupt like the first one but not nearly as effective, it felt a little weak to me.
Still, this is still a very enjoyable book series especially for anyone looking for a science fiction/dystopia book series with a gay main character.
I liked Proxy slightly better than Guardian, but that didn't mean this one was bad. It was just missing a few things that I liked in the first book and I felt Proxy's ending was a lot stronger too.
First of all, I missed Knox. I didn't expect him to be back, obviously, but I still missed his humor in this book. I did like Liam, but he was very different sort of character.
Spoiler
Though I do think he and Syd were cute.What mostly held me back from fully enjoying this book was the very end. It was abrupt like the first one but not nearly as effective, it felt a little weak to me.
Still, this is still a very enjoyable book series especially for anyone looking for a science fiction/dystopia book series with a gay main character.
joshfries's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't nearly as good as the first one, but still a very good book.
I hope the author ends the series here... I feel as if the story line is finished.
Though wouldn't mind reading Liam's backstory...
I hope the author ends the series here... I feel as if the story line is finished.
Though wouldn't mind reading Liam's backstory...
bookish_notes's review
4.0
I admit that I wasn't really interested in reading this book after what happened to Knox in [b:Proxy|16101023|Proxy (Proxy, #1)|Alex London|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391051757s/16101023.jpg|19075979]. Knox was my favorite and it seemed like Liam was just going to be a replacement Knox when I read the summary for [b:Guardian|17227209|Guardian (Proxy, #2)|Alex London|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390840157s/17227209.jpg|23739936]. So, I was quite surprised by how much I came to like Liam and Syd in this book. It's a bit mad that the whole of book 1 consisted of destroying and fighting against those in power, and then in Guardian everyone's scrambling to undo it all. I liked how we got more of Marie and the small scenes with her and her parents and even the scene with Knox's father. There are still some unanswered questions (like Liam's ENTIRE backstory could be its own novel), but overall, the book was enjoyable. It was fairly fast-paced and lots of action/fighting at the end.