Guardian of the Promise: Merlin's Descendants #4 [Paperback]

Irene Radford (Author)

Book Description

Series: Merlin's Descendants | Publication Date: April 6, 2004

Now in paperback, the fourth novel in Irene Radford's acclaimed saga of Merlin and his descendants follows the children of twin brothers Donovan and Griffin, in a magic-fueled struggle to protect Elizabethan England from enemies-both mortal and demonic.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the conclusion to her series devoted to Merlin's descendants (Guardian of the Vision, etc.), Radford's adroit mix of dark fantasy and Elizabethan politics, involving the complicated rivalries among the English, Scottish, French and Spanish, continues to entertain. Still in love with Mary Queen of Scots, Donovan Kirkwood must tread a delicate balance between his desire to free the imprisoned Mary and his loyalty to Queen Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Donovan's niece Deidre and son Hal travel to Paris to try to rescue the city's Protestants from the depredations of El Lobison, the sadistic Master of Wolves. The cruel Spaniard captures Hal and turns him into a werewolf; but first, in a scene not for the squeamish, El Lobison torments Hal by killing his faithful dog, Helwriaeth. ("The Master of Wolves nearly chortled as he turned his wicked blade and hook to butchering Helwriaeth.") Years later, Donovan's daughter Betsy starts to embrace the darker side of magic in an effort to cement her claim to the title Pendragon. However, it is Deidre who in the final battle assumes the Pendragon mantle to challenge the enemy in England's time of greatest need. Fans of ingenious twists on the Merlin legends, if not animal lovers, should be well pleased
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The fourth book of Radford's Merlin's Descendants saga is also the second volume about Elizabethan nobleman Donovan Kirkwood and his relatives, one of whom will probably be the next Pendragon, or prime inheritor of Merlin's magic. Kirkwood has been restricted to England by decree of Queen Elizabeth. His daughter Deirdre can travel, though, and being convinced that the anti-Protestant St. Bartholomew's Eve massacre portends dire consequences for just about everything and everybody, she adjourns to France with her cousin Hal. The two encounter plenty of natural menaces generated by religious warfare, and more than a few supernatural ones, of which werewolves are only the most conspicuous. By now the saga has moved well beyond the Arthurian era in which it began and into a period where Radford's historical expertise and feminist inclinations show up to better advantage. It is pretty hard to write a bad historical fantasy set in the Elizabethan era if you have the skill to do it justice. Radford demonstrably does. Ponderous in bulk, high in quality, intelligent throughout. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: DAW; First Printing edition (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756401089
• ISBN-13: 978-0756401085
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb historical fantasy, April 12, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guardian of the Promise (Merlin's Descendants, 4) (Hardcover)

Griffin Kirkwood was supposed to be this generation's Pendragon but he turned his back on his magical heritage to become a catholic priest. His twin brother Donovan was too weak to pick up the mantle so the Pendragon skips a generation. Griffin's daughter Deidre and Donovan's son Hal journey to France with familiars to prevent the massacres that are imminent. While working the spell, Hal is captured by El Lobison and turned into a werewolf.

He escapes and keeps his distance from the family for many years while Deidre becomes a spy for Queen Elizabeth I. Time after time Deidre helps prevent the plots of Mary, Queen of Scots to oust Elizabeth. Mary eventually goes too far and forces Elizabeth to act. Knowing that if Mary is executed, Philip of Spain's armada will launch, Deidre begs Elizabeth to stay her hand. When her efforts fail, Deidre is willing to use powerful magic that may end up killing her to keep England safe but Hal refuses to see the love of his life die.

The Merlin's Descendants series uses magic to explain pivotal historical events that played a key role in the history of Great Britain. Although never formally invested with the title, Deidre is her generation's Pendragon because she puts England's need above her own, willing to give her life to see her country stay free. Hal is more of a tragic heroic figure who doesn't succumb to his werewolf nature and is a proper mate for Deidre even if they are first cousins. Irene Radford's latest novel is a magnificent fantasy epic using real historic events and people to make the story line seems believable.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Guardian Delivers on the Promise!, February 15, 2004

By 

Kimberly Gelderman (Spring Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Guardian of the Promise (Merlin's Descendants, 4) (Hardcover)

This is the final and fourth of the "Guardian" series by Irene Radford. The story is set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I and the descendants of Merlin, Hal & Deirdre, continually embark on spy missions to save the Queen and England. The forces of Chaos are always threatening to destroy what Elizabeth has built. These forces come in the forms of werewolves lead by an magical madman known as "El Lobo." He seeks to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne in Elizabeth's place only be the power behind the throne and make her a puppet queen.

The constant exciting missions fraught with magic and sorcery will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is very exciting reading that keeps you wondering will evil or good prevail.