Mystic Guardian (Signet Eclipse) [Paperback]

Patricia Rice (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2007 | Series: Signet Eclipse

Off the coast of France lies the sun-kissed isle of Aelynn. Guarded by Trystan l'Enforcer, its people use magical abilities to protect a sacred chalice. An ambitious Trystan intends to marry for convenience, but when a sultry beauty washes up on his shore, she stirs in him a carnal hunger-and his plans take a confounding turn. Now he must work with her to recover Aelynn's most sacred object before chaotic forces can lead to devastating destruction.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On the eve of the French Revolution, the country's commoners are suffering, and one small, starving seacoast village has a final chance for hope: a golden god foreseen by local girl Mariel St. Just's deceased mother. Unfortunately, when Mariel finally spots the golden figure, he's about to set sail. Spunky Mariel, a rather uncommon commoner who can swim underwater like a mermaid, follows his ship to its destination: the secret, magically guarded isle of Aelynn. Despite mutual attraction, the golden man—actually Tristan l'Enforcer, Aelynn's loyal guardian—refuses to help Mariel or her town—so Mariel helps herself, escaping with an old chalice that she sells to buy wheat for her village. Little does she realize that the relic is Aelynn's most powerful sacred artifact, the Chalice of Plenty—and soon Tristan shows up to recover it. As is typical, award-winning author Rice pieces together an intriguing, complex plot, setting the spirited pair against an exiled islander, their growing feelings for each other and two troubled worlds. A fine, fresh series kickoff, Rice's latest is passionate, rich in historical detail and peopled with enough captivating secondary characters to pique readers' curiosity for many volumes to come. (July)
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From Booklist

Marial's seer mother predicted that a beautiful golden god would sail in and save the village in a time of famine and disaster. But the man fitting the description is sailing away, so Marial, who has mermaidlike powers and can breathe underwater, grabs onto a trailing rope and is hauled to Aelynn, the secret island where Trystan l'Enforcer and his superstrong, magically talented kind live. Stealing a tarnished chalice when she escapes, Marial has no idea that she has taken one of the greatest treasures of Aelynn. When she returns to France, she trades it for enough wheat to feed her starving village. Soon Trystan is back to find her, not only because of the chalice but because she is the one woman in the world with whom he can have children that will inherit strong magical abilities. As they follow the chalice across France, the reasons for the Revolution become apparent. Rice has skillfully woven together magic, romance, adventure, and French history to create an enticing story. Tixier Herald, Diana

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Signet (July 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451221699
• ISBN-13: 978-0451221698
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,459,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was good but . . ., July 15, 2007

By 

blugirlami21 (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mystic Guardian (Signet Eclipse) (Paperback)

I was really excited to see that Patricia Rice had a new novel out and I couldn't wait to read it. I think the new world Rice has created is interesting, if a little odd. I do think that too many of the island's inhabitants are a little to mysterious, talking in riddles and giving non answers.

I found Trystan to be a little cold in the beginning but I liked that he warmed up quite a bit by the novels end. I really liked Mariel in the beginning but I found her selfish attitude towards her affect on Trystan's life and her stupid actions irritating. It's not like Trystan was being completely unreasonable with what he needed her to do and her often callous disregard for his feelings turned me off.

While I thought Mariel's love for her sister and need to keep her promises to her mother was admirable, she acted like her sister was still a child instead of a grown married woman who I thought needed to learn how to take care of herself. Not to say Trystan was perfect but he was very understanding with Mariel's actions.

It may sound like I didn't like this book a whole lot but I felt the love that Trystan felt for each other was real, the secondary characters were well developed and brought a lot to the story, I liked Mariel a lot better by the story's end, and Rice has set the stage for the upcoming novels in the Mystic Isle series.

So if you want to read a novel about a new world, island mysteries, and alpha males and females then Mystic Guardian is the story for you.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific historical romantic fantasy, July 6, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: Mystic Guardian (Signet Eclipse) (Paperback)

In 1789 Pouchay, Brittany, although the villagers are starving to death including her sister Francine, Mariel St. Just has one hope to save all. Before her mamam died, she dreamed of a golden god saving her people. When Mariel sees Trystan l'Enforcer at sea, she follows him. To his shock, the protector of the Isle of Aelynn watches her come ashore; an impossible event due to the force field preventing outsiders from coming onto the isle.

Even more mystifying than Mariel reaching the beach is his immediate attraction to the Frenchwoman. He soon realizes the God chose her as his soulmate and that she must be a hybrid, more mermaid than purebred human. Still in spite of his desire for her Trystan refuses to intervene on behalf of the villagers. Mariel steals the battered chalice that she plans to sell for food before swimming to France. Trystan follows to bring her and the sacred Chalice of Plenty back to Aelynn where it belongs.

Despite rumblings of discontent among the people and the danger she and Trystan face in retrieving the chalice, Mariel cannot deny the sensual charge sizzling between them. But what do the Oracle of Aelynn's predictions portend for this golden god and his siren of the sea?

This is a terrific historical romantic fantasy that uses the events leading up to the French Revolution as a realistic anchor for the mystical elements. The lead couple is a strong pairing as both are in love with the other, but also feel that loyalty to their respective people must come before personal desires. Sub-genre fans will want to read the first Mystic Isle thriller as Patricia Rice provides a charming magical tale of two worlds.

Harriet Klausner

1.0 out of 5 stars mystic guardian, February 15, 2011

By 

Ann R. Scott "love reading" (Glendale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mystic Guardian (Signet Eclipse) (Kindle Edition)

This was an unbelievably BAD book!! I had read another of her books and really liked it so I ordered this one and 4 others.....I sure hope the others are better. I was very disappointed.