Reviews

Guardian by Alex London

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hethelmarie's review against another edition

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5.0

THHHEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEENNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGGGGGG!!!!!!

novelsinpieces's review against another edition

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4.75

GOOD GOD, PLEASE TELL ME THIS ISN'T THE END

After I read Proxy I never really knew that there was a sequel. Hell, I thought it was the end and I felt empty for months. But I am so glad that I found out about it. So I embarked on a journey to buy the book; you have no idea how many bookstores I went to to find this.

When you thought Proxy was good, Guardian was better.

I WEPT SO MUCH AT THE END. Seriously, the hope broke me so much. I want to hope that it was all better. I want to hope that Marie lived. I want to hope that Syd lived. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO HOPE. Because if Syd doesn't get to hear Liam's life story, I will scream. And cry. And die in the inside.

This duology just worked its way to the top of my imaginary shelf: 'I really love this book and I will weep for it to the ends of the world.'

sir_presh's review against another edition

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3.0

I do not like dystopian YA. I find them quite annoying.
This on the other hand, I like very much.
It's a swell story.
Our main character Syd is unlike any other!
He has no interest in changing the society. I like him. He's more human than most.

All in all a great book. I'd have loved to know more about the Nigerians tho...

kate_johnston's review against another edition

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3.0

It was a good book overall, but I got really confused in the final fight scene. I didn't really know what was going on, the villain was like a damn cockroach, and the whole building-slide part was just too weird (and I couldn't envision how that was even happening, basic physics aside). I also didn't really connect with any of the characters, and I didn't like how it basically made the first book pointless.. But still, overall it was good.

david_prete's review

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

leewicks's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm not 100% on my rating. Maybe a 3.75 stars?

Either way, this was still a really good book. I enjoyed [b:Guardian|17227209|Guardian (Proxy, #2)|Alex London|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390840157s/17227209.jpg|23739936]'s plot well enough, the pacing was good (up until the end), the world building was solid, and I found myself really liking Liam, which surprised me.

Spoiler

I thought that he was going to be a Knox replacement, but thankfully he wasn't.

He kind of fits the "friendly giant" character type, which I am an absolute sucker for. Normally I call that character type the "gentle giant" though, and whilst he may been that way with Syd, urh...well. You know.

I also really liked Syd and Marie's friendship. They're not emotional people, they don't have heart-to-hearts, but they look out for one another, and do these little things with each other to show they care, that they understand. That was warming to read.

Just like [b:Proxy|18667787|Proxy (Proxy, #1)|Alex London|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391051806s/18667787.jpg|19075979], I found the ending of this book to be kind of sudden. Whilst that worked well for Proxy, this time around I found myself dissatisfied. Things towards the end felt rushed. I could've done with a few pages more, a few more things being wrapped up. Not such an "open ended" concluding paragraph.

Spoiler

Oh, and Mr Baram's death? Syd didn't seem to give a shit, despite the fact that throughout all of Proxy, and some of Guardian, he really cared for the man who was the closest thing he had to a father. Then, he dies and...Syd doesn't grieve. He doesn't really do anything in terms of processing it, and that didn't fit what we were told Syd felt for the man.

Anyway. To sum up! This is an action-packed, diverse, and thought-provoking dystopian duology. It was a really pleasant surprise, and I wish that I had picked it up sooner!