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cfletcher2319's review
4.5
Some difficult twists and turns emotionally, but a good happy ending. Excellent spice, and THE FEMALE LOVE INTEREST DOESNT DIE
gypsydawn's review
2.0
I wasn't sure quite what to think about this book when I first delved in, but that resolved soon and I found myself captivated by not only the characters, but the PREMISE of this world.
The imagination of inventiveness of the human mind combines with magic to create what we dream.... dragons, Santa Clause, Witches, Smurfs... all of it. Popular culture comes out to play, and the Guardians are a select group specially trained and created to handle the influx and danger these creations can cause. They corral them, redirect them and at times, destroy them. And this is the story of one of those Guardians - and the Elite Team she finds herself with.
It's unique, a bit humorous and rather hot. Fair warning, that ending scene messed with my head.
Perspective:
~First Person, Single POV
Ending Type:
~Cliffhanger
Rating:
~R to mature
Romantic Dynamic:
~MMMMMMF (FF Present, as well as MM)
Character Age Range:
~20+
The imagination of inventiveness of the human mind combines with magic to create what we dream.... dragons, Santa Clause, Witches, Smurfs... all of it. Popular culture comes out to play, and the Guardians are a select group specially trained and created to handle the influx and danger these creations can cause. They corral them, redirect them and at times, destroy them. And this is the story of one of those Guardians - and the Elite Team she finds herself with.
It's unique, a bit humorous and rather hot. Fair warning, that ending scene messed with my head.
Perspective:
~First Person, Single POV
Ending Type:
~Cliffhanger
Rating:
~R to mature
Romantic Dynamic:
~MMMMMMF (FF Present, as well as MM)
Character Age Range:
~20+
morningcoffee79's review
4.0
I had so much fun reading this for our podcast What the Smut. Check it out for all of the spoilers.
Great read cant wait to see what happens in book 2
Great read cant wait to see what happens in book 2
bunnerz's review against another edition
3.0
The general world building in this first book of the series was interesting, but the delivery left something to be desired. It wasn't very exciting to get the history of the world as giant dry lectures from character dialogues. There was also a serious lack of detail to flesh out the characters, too - many details of the characters' pasts were just glossed over and implied to be understood by our narrator FMC Jessamina. It took near the end of the book to figure out basic details that were hinted at in the beginning.
There wasn't much drama other than some petty bullying and Jessamina's insecurity with the other members of the Alpha team about developing a relationship with all her crushes. It's a change in pace than my usual reads, and I didn't count it against the book as it wasn't too cheesy sweet to the point it was annoying.
The book was still an entertaining read for me, and I'm looking forward to seeing exactly what happens in the next book with that cliffhanger ending.
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Ratings - abandoned series:
#1 Guardian (this book): ★★★☆☆
#2 Guardian's Blood: ★★★☆☆
#3 Guardian Ascending: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
There wasn't much drama other than some petty bullying and Jessamina's insecurity with the other members of the Alpha team about developing a relationship with all her crushes. It's a change in pace than my usual reads, and I didn't count it against the book as it wasn't too cheesy sweet to the point it was annoying.
The book was still an entertaining read for me, and I'm looking forward to seeing exactly what happens in the next book with that cliffhanger ending.
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Ratings - abandoned series:
#1 Guardian (this book): ★★★☆☆
#2 Guardian's Blood: ★★★☆☆
#3 Guardian Ascending: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
rachaeljanae's review against another edition
2.0
The first thing that really put me off this book was the Author's Note at the very beginning. I get the whole debate on whether or not to include content warnings, since it can spoil some things but also can be a good advertiser for people who want certain things out of their books. But if you think that it is not necessary/wanted in your own books, don't include them. Don't say "Author's Note: Snowflake edition." That is condescending and unnecessary and very dismissive of people who may have legitimate concerns about certain content. And that was all on page two, so I was already starting the book with a negative view of this experience.
There was basically no world-building at the beginning of this book, and I mean I was not sure if we were on Earth for at least four chapters. They have this odd mix of technology and historical things, such as one character randomly wearing a full-on Victorian dress with corset and everything, but others wearing super sleek, futuristic battle-wear. They also had hover-carriages and the ability to portal, but also horse-drawn carriages for no apparent reason. If there's a way to get around like hovercrafts and portals, why do we still use horses??? And if there's a real reason, I can get on board, but this was not explained and felt like the author decided on it just because it feels steampunk. Steampunk still needs to make cohesive sense, and the way this was incorporated didn't. The entire world in which the book takes place isn't really fully explained until the end of the book through whatever bits and pieces were described throughout the book, but still difficult to get a full picture as we are experiencing the plot.
The overall plot was pretty predictable, both in this book and throughout the series. Does it get better? A bit, but it's not a ground-breaking series. On a personal note, there is a point at which the main character showers like four times in one day and I was really confused as to why since it wasn't like she was working out or in battle or anything.
There was basically no world-building at the beginning of this book, and I mean I was not sure if we were on Earth for at least four chapters. They have this odd mix of technology and historical things, such as one character randomly wearing a full-on Victorian dress with corset and everything, but others wearing super sleek, futuristic battle-wear. They also had hover-carriages and the ability to portal, but also horse-drawn carriages for no apparent reason. If there's a way to get around like hovercrafts and portals, why do we still use horses??? And if there's a real reason, I can get on board, but this was not explained and felt like the author decided on it just because it feels steampunk. Steampunk still needs to make cohesive sense, and the way this was incorporated didn't. The entire world in which the book takes place isn't really fully explained until the end of the book through whatever bits and pieces were described throughout the book, but still difficult to get a full picture as we are experiencing the plot.
The overall plot was pretty predictable, both in this book and throughout the series. Does it get better? A bit, but it's not a ground-breaking series. On a personal note, there is a point at which the main character showers like four times in one day and I was really confused as to why since it wasn't like she was working out or in battle or anything.
thehobbyest's review against another edition
4.0
Guardian book 1 in the Collector's Division starts out intense, and never slowed down. It was a interesting mix of Gods, magic, shifters, angels and demons, that kept me guessing.
Jessamina (Mina) is an AB, and they protect the realms from creatures and magic that would do harm. I loved the cross over of pop culture references such as "that TV show with the Dragons" and other TV shows and movies that shape the realms of the book. It was fun, upbeat and made me laugh. Very enjoyable read.
Jessamina (Mina) is an AB, and they protect the realms from creatures and magic that would do harm. I loved the cross over of pop culture references such as "that TV show with the Dragons" and other TV shows and movies that shape the realms of the book. It was fun, upbeat and made me laugh. Very enjoyable read.
shelovestoread81's review
5.0
This was a great first book. It was a fast read and left a little cliffhanger but I luckily could get the next one.
rayne's review against another edition
4.0
What a ride! This book had a bit of everything. Being a Guardian in the Collector’s Division is a big task and our FMC is just the person to rise up to the challenge. I really enjoyed the world building and character development in this book. A big cliffy that the author warns us about at the start. Looking forward to continuing the series - onto book 2!