Customer Reviews

Return of the Guardian-King (Legends of the Guardian-King, Book 4)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Karen Hancock's final book is spellbinding and a fitting end to this wonderful fantasy/allegorical series. The faith and love of Abramm, Maddie and Trap are tested more than ever before and their responses are genuine and heartfelt. The reader has little difficulty imagining the land, the people and the intricate politics of the warring countries as Karen's writing is of the highest calibre. The characters' individual struggles are portrayed so well that I was fully invested in the outcomes of their choices. The tension between Trap and Carissa and their languishing marriage was excellent and juxtaposed beautifully with Abramm and Maddie's seemingly unfounded commitment to each other despite their physical separation. Staffids, shapeshifters and the purging of physical evil by the cleansing light of Eidon are vivid allegorical descriptions of our own lives.

Return of the Guardian King is engrossing, entertaining and challenging. The message at it's heart is powerful and not to be missed. This is a landmark series to be enjoyed more than once.

In a fitting finale to the _Legends of the Guardian King_, _Return of the Guardian King_, brings this wonderful epic to a close in a spectacular manner.

First, I should say, if this is the first book in the series you've been looking at to read, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning, for these four books are not so much a story as a journey, and what satisfying conclusion is reached when you begin at the end?

After waiting (maybe not so patiently at times) for the last installment, I can honestly say it was well worth the wait. One of Hancock's greatest strengths is that she can make you care deeply about the characters and what happens to them. Also, her worldbuilding is superb, and the addition of a new culture in this book is welcome as it adds yet another dimension to the richness of the novels. I found myself quite surprised in a few places as where I expected the story to go as the plot developed and where it actually did go weren't as expected. Above all, the developing lives of the characters show a deepening faith that I know I can learn from, and from which to draw truth in my own life.

Light Of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King)
The Shadow Within (Legends of the Guardian-King)
Shadow Over Kiriath (Legends of the Guardian-King)

Like its neighbor nations Kiriath has fallen. The Shadow rules with an iron fist oppressing any opposition. While most of his countrymen assume he is dead, a few close advisors are fleeing with distraught Abramm Kalladorne as they are forced to take flight way from his beloved Kiriath to take temporary sanctuary in the desert. He hopes to reach his wife Maddie in Fannath Rill in the last realm of Eidon's Light, mountainous Chesedh. Once there he plans to assist his father-in-law fight the Black Moon legions of the Shadow. However no matter how hard he tries to reach his spouse's side, he stumbles until finally Abramm assumes that for whatever reason Eidon has a different fate in store for him.

Meanwhile her family insist Abramm is dead having fallen nobly in combat and that to save their country from being the next and final domino to fall she must marry a suitor who can provide the realm galleys that could turn the tide in their favor. Without this aid, Chesedh will lose. Maddie tries to resist the pressure as she believes in her soul she would know if her beloved died, but saving her people and her family seems the right thing to do as the conquerors head in their direction.

The fourth tale in the "Legends of the Guardian-King" (see THE LIGHT OF EIDON, SHADOW OVER KIRIATH and THE SHADOW WITHIN) continues the exciting fantasy war between the Dark Moon forces of the Shadow and that of the Light of Eidon. However in this tale the hostilities play more of a doomsday countdown backdrop to the dilemmas of Abramm and Maddie as each ponders what to do next as duty supersedes their personal relationship. Fans of Christian Armageddon sagas will enjoy the fight between the light and dark due to the quandaries confronted by the lead pair, who put human faces on the supremacy war.

Harriet Klausner

Do you recognize this?

'Abramm let his eyes drift over the hills below, pockets of bright yellow jumping out from the green here and there. "I think I will be back here one day ..."

"Yes, I think you will be, too."

"He looked around, surprised, and the stranger met his gaze, a pair of dark and friendly eyes looking out of his weathered face. And it almost seemed he knew who Abramm was.

"Hey, up there!" called one of the men from the yard. "They say with the wind that's sprung up we'd best leave soon t' thread the pass before it snows. If ye want t' come, ye'd best get yer baggage gathered up."

"Thanks," Abramm called down to him. "I'll do that."

He turned back to the man who had been beside him, but the stranger was already gone.'

So ended Shadow over Kiriath, all but for a short postlude written in the antagonist's point of view. Abramm's world had collapsed. He learned of the plot against him instigated by his puppet-brother at the behest of his true enemies, engineered his wife's escape, even as he allowed himself to be captured. Tortured to make him renounce the Light, he is ultimately assigned public execution. However, his uncle mounted a clandestine rescue. Abramm took on his middle name Alaric, and after healing from injuries, made his way toward Chesedh.

Return of the Guardian-King picks up the story from that point. Abramm as Alaric does not make it over the pass before the snow comes. Meanwhile, Maddie, his wife, believes he is dead, as does the entire nation, because an impostor was executed in his place. Except ... except ... as she grieves, she continues to dream of him, and cannot put him from her mind--certainly cannot entertain any thoughts of remarriage as her sister-in-law urges her to do as a political expediency.

From that point on, the story moves from one exciting turn to another, the political intrigue and the spiritual battle intertwining as they have throughout the Legends of the Guardian-King series.

Without a doubt, fans of the series will be pleased by the final installment. There are lots of surprises, dangers, moments of despair and of triumph.

Strengths. Once again, Karen Hancock has situated an interesting story in a dense fantasy world. I say "dense" because of the in-depth development of each society, each faction, whether it is the opposition to Abramm in Kiriath, the simple people he finds himself traveling with, the royal Chesedh court, or the brutal enemy Esurite system.

Weakness. The "faith elements," quite transparent in the earlier books of the series, seem even more so in this final chapter. The happy-ever-after ending we all suspect from the beginning is stretched too far, in my opinion--one particular point involving one of Abramm's sons makes the end seem like just a bit too neat a package to feel real.

Recommendation. Those who were hooked by the end of Shadow over Kiriath and have been waiting for this book for over a year will be ecstatic and will not be disappointed. The characters they've come to love are front and center and once again tested to the max.

This is most definitely not a "stand-alone," however, and publisher Bethany House did a disservice not to promote it as a Tolkien-esque unit. We've all seen the development of "Potter-mania" as hundreds of thousands of fans wait for the release of the next book. It builds enthusiasm and excitement, and that same approach would have benefitted Hancock's books. I highly recommend Return of the Guardian-King to fans who have read the first three books. For others who love fantasy, get The Light of Eidon and start the series from the beginning.

Not going to write a really long review.

Return of the Guardian King is a fantastic ending to a fantastic series. Honestly, it may be the best of the four. A wonderful representation of the self-life man and finding our true rest in Christ and dependence on him. Awesome representations of spiritual warfare with one of the biggest principles being: the refusal to believe the enemies lie over our Lord's truth.

And on top of that...just a wonderful wonderful story with great characters.

Hopefully Karen will revisit this world.

I finished reading it late last week and I cannot get it out of my head. I envision shadowspawn in my laundry basket, I see dragons in my dreams. I have so much to write, but my hands are bound. I can't spoil it for you! That would just be wrong. So, I'll say nothing. Nothing at all.

Well, okay. Just a little.

You will never forget the simply delicious new character, Draek Tiris. Handsome, eloquent, rich, and set to win Maddie. And to think he's - Uh oh! There I go. I can't tell you or it will ruin everything.

Okay then, here's something. There are so many emotionally poignant moments. I broke down and cried when Maddie discovers her sons are - Oh! I can't tell you that either! Never mind.

But I can tell you about Abramm, of course. Abramm and the importance of the dragon insignia on his coat of arms, and the same emblem tattooed on his arm. Remember that? From the first book? It is all woven together so beautifully and comes to a magnificent climax when - No!

Gillard! You'll be blown away, truly blown away by Gillard's - Sigh. Not even that.

I can't tell you anything, except read it. Read. It. And if you haven't read the previous books, you should, but you don't necessarily have to, to enjoy this one, but why wouldn't you? Just read them all.

nildesperandum777 (A good conclusion for the Guardian-King Series); your review is exactly my opinion, as well. I had one small complaint while I was reading the book, which was that it took Abramm so long to get to Maddie, but in the end I see what Karen was doing. I agree with you about Simon and Gillard, though. There was so much more she could have done... but all in all an excellent book. The only other slightly bothersome thing to me was the sexual awareness of the book, but that's just my pet quibble...

The fourth and last book, entitled Return of the Guardian-King, has finally been published and is available to read. And what a great read it is!

Abramm Kalladorne's kingdom has been stripped from him and he is now an exile from Kiriath. His brother Gillard has been declared king and now Abramm must escape through the mountain passes to Chesedh, where his wife waits for him. Abramm has been declared dead and Madeline has believed the rumors, for the most part.

What happens inbetween is a wonderfully woven tale of love and betrayal, of war and struggle. I won't spoil the action, but this book concludes a very well written series. Hancock is a master at making the reader care for her characters. Her descriptions are poignant and breathetaking, but not overdone.

My only complaint (since I always seem to have at least one) would be that Gillard isn't part of the story enough. He is one of those great characters you love to hate because he was so wickedly mean to Abramm in the previous books and he is relegated to a mere background character in this book. Abramm's Uncle Simon is also not utilized enough in the story.

Return of the Guardian-King (Legends of the Guardian-King, Book 4)

Another excellent book by Ms. Hancock. Her character journeys are well written and draw the reader through the store always turning the page and wanting to know what happens next. The message of perseverance and placing your faith in Eidon comes across so strongly and resonates within the reader long after the book is closed. I wanted more, but not because she didn't finish the story or that it was lacking in something, but because it inspired me and left me wanting a closer relationship with God.

God Bless,

Chris
[...]

The whole series is unique and carefully thought out, yet ambitious in scope. Worth applauding and saying thank you!