Lladrana is in a desperate situation and they need help or their world could perish. But the help they seek is not for the asking, they must "summon" their warriors, their marshalls. They are bound by magic, yet within the universe where they live the magic is waning, so they cannot fight the terrible monsters waiting to invade their beautiful kingdom. The Marshalls of Lladrana are bound to follow their ancient traditions to fight in the only way they can...summon the warrior from a distant land, one who leaves behind the desire for their own world, one who will pick up the sword. Or else Lladrana is doomed.
Alexa Fitzwalter is an everyday lawyer on unmagical earth. She's on an errand in the mountains of Colorado that has her doubting her sanity - she's following a song. Her life is at a point where she's not happy. She's filled with remorse over the death of her close friend, and worse, she is hearing things no one else does, such as chants and a gong. Only, this isn't the Gong Show. She's not expecting to be "summoned". To Alexa a summons is a legal paper served, telling you need to show up in court. This summons as is far from that as...well Alexa is in for a BIG shock. Alexa's journey starts with the words, "Help us. Come to us. We need you here as no one there ever will." Unable to resist the lure, she follows the summoning, dropping into Lladrana almost Alice-through-the-rabbit's-hole, into a realm of monsters, of guardians losing their power, and a whole world that will depend upon her to save them. She lands - literally in this foreign realm, no by your leave, no welcome wagon, no take me to your leader. And that is just the beginning.
She little understands the intricacies of this unusual land, cannot understand the language. Yet, armed with only her wits, the help of a mystical companion and the sexy chevalier Bastien, Alex must assume her new role as one of the Marshalls of Lladrana. Alexa must discover skills from within herself she had no idea existed in order to battle the encroaching menace. Then she will have to face the ultimate decision, return to her world or stay with Bastien in this new land where she is needed.
Once again, Robin D. Owens gives us an alternative world, as richly defined as few futuristic/paranormal writers can deliver. In this one, instead of the Heartmates and kitty Fams of Celta, we have the first of three ordinary women, who are summoned to save Lladrana and learn they have the power within them to make a difference, to be more than they thought they could be. Owens has always impressed me with her magical ability to create a paranormal realm, people it with interesting characters that you care about and within a highly developed alternative universe. You just don't read about her 'worlds', you enter them. I especially compliment Owens on her deft use of Multi-POV (Point of View) that permits the readers the fullest enjoyment of knowing all the characters and their emotions. It's the difference between a paint-by-numbers landscape and the sheer brilliance of a Turner watercolor.
In a time when the market is screaming for new directions within the Romance Genre, looking for stories with more substance, this is just what you need. Futuristic/Fantasy with heart, soul and endless adventure. On occasion, I see comments on this style of book as not an "easy" read. Maybe. It depends upon the commitment of the reader. Frankly, I think it's so much more - it a worthwhile read, that delivers on all levels that take you away to a magic world where all things are possible, even within yourself. 'Guardian" is the first of three "Summoning Books". Based on this tale, I eagerly await the next two.
